Manchester United have been impressive under Erik ten Hag but the new manager may start to lose the trust of supporters if he doesn’t change his style of play, according to pundit and former player Graeme Souness.
Ten Hag made a rough start to his career in the United dugout, losing the two opening fixtures to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, the latter in humiliating fashion as the Bees scored four before half-time.
Since then, though, United have won four on the spin including victories of Liverpool and Arsenal at Old Trafford to rise to fifth in the Premier League standings.
Ten Hag has been roundly praised for turning around the Red Devils’ form after they looked lost in those opening defeats, and they were the first team to take any points off Mikel Arteta’s Gunners when they secured a 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
Though Souness has been impressed by the character of United’s performances, he believes that fans will start to demand a new style of play which is more exciting and less pragmatic.
‘They’re dogged, determined, they’re showing real spirit, togetherness,’ the former Liverpool captain and manager told . ‘I think they’re playing in a pragmatic way now, they’re not playing in the way.’
As long as I’ve been in football Man United play a certain way, which is on the front foot, exciting. They are impressive because they’ve shown a togetherness to win games, But going forward is that how he wants to play? Is that how Man United supporters want their team to play? No.’
‘But there’s been a bit of a reset to think, “we have to be a little bit more cautious, a little bit more pragmatic,” and it’s working for them at the moment.’
United continue their season with a Europa League fixture at home to Real Sociedad on Thursday, before travelling to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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