Manchester United's Erik ten Hag reveals key difference between last summer and ongoing transfer window

The Red Devils finished 3rd in the Premier League last season

Erik ten Hag got United’s reigns when Old Trafford looked like it was about to collapse at the start, he was replacing dishonorably discharged manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a disastrous United campaign.

In the 21-22 season, Manchester United finished 6th in the Premier League, their lowest finish since 12-13 when they finished 7th , they were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 and were nowhere near as consequential as they have been in the EFL and the FA cup.

Moreover, they had to digest the fact that the biggest team in England will not go to the Champions League next season, owing to their 6th position in the English topflight, they were to play in the Europa League next season and that to only just, with a lead of just two points over West Ham protecting them from playing in the Conference League.

Erik ten Hag took United’s helm at a time no new faces wanted to come to the club, it was the first time in a long time when the name Manchester United wasn’t enough to lure players.

On top of that, Erik ten Hag wasn’t exactly winning any popularity contests in Manchester. With the unceremonious exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, fans needed someone to put the blame on, and the newly appointed manager seemed like just the correct target. With Ronaldo leaving, fans announced the Dutch managers reign to be “Ten Hag’s reign of terror”.

During such a time, Ten Hag looked to his previous appointments to find new faces, as he had managed Ajax before coming to Old Trafford, he convinced United’s money masters to spend a cumulative €162m on the Martinez brothers from Ajax, Antony and Lisandro. His midfield got a big boost in Casemiro, and he managed Eriksen on a free transfer from Brentford.

With all they could have in their Arsenal, Ten Hag and United took on the 22-23 season.

As the season progressed, it became clear that Erik ten Hag had achieved a remarkable turnaround from last season. As the season ended, The Red Devils finished 3rd in the Premier League, made it up to the quarter finals of the Europa League, came in as runners up in the FA Cup, and to top it off, ended their six-season trophy drought by winning the EFL cup.

Now, as the current transfer window started, Manchester United were once again able to enter the transfer market as a big name, and players once again want to be a part of the United name.

Speaking about this turn of fortune, Erik ten Hag said.

"There were lots of doubts when we called and approached players last summer. Now it's very, very different.

This year, they see the ambition in the project, and many quality players really want to come."

Erik ten Hag has already made sure to use his newfound pull and has acquired players like Mason Mount and Andre Onana. And is in process of bringing Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund into the mix.

It is remarkable how Ten Hag managed to change United’s fortunes in within a year, going from a target for bullish United fans to Old Trafford’s trusted commander in chief.