Erik ten Hag might not be able to play Manchester United’s next three matches the way he wants to

Erik ten Hag is trying to transform Manchester United. He’s brought fresh ideas, signed new players and looked to implement higher standards that demand even more from the personnel at his disposal.

In the first few months of the season, those changes have been clear to see. You only have to watch United to see they are playing more expressively, though scrolling through their recent results might not tell the same story.

What is important to note is that Ten Hag’s transformation will take time; there is no quick fix. As the season goes on, he will learn more about his players and they will learn more about him.

NEXT UP: United are repeating their Aaron Wan-Bissaka mistake

Some of those ideas might be altered and adapted, while others might be abandoned entirely. However, after a tricky start to the campaign, there is now an extra emphasis on the results.

In an ideal world, Ten Hag would have United playing total football and brushing opposition teams aside. Instead, we’ve still seen some totally inept football and a stark realisation that this team needs to learn to walk before it can run.

United are still at the start of their journey under the 52-year-old and expectations need to be eased. There is plenty of time for the style of football to be perfected, but he won’t get that time if the results aren’t there to match.

In the next nine days, United face three matches that will severely impact their season, and the best approach might well be one of playing to their strengths rather than to an ideological theory.

If they try to play an expansive and open brand of football but are not at their best, then United will be there for the taking against Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea in the next week.

Instead, they might