A smile is etched on the face of Sir Alex Ferguson as Erik ten Hag exits the Wembley pitch and is greeted with applause at the end of the tunnel.
There are a few people waiting to congratulate the Manchester United manager on ending a trophy drought that had spanned 2104 days for the club - achieved by Ten Hag at the very first time of asking. However, there is only one person that Ten Hag is going to embrace first.
He is a manager that has proven himself heavily intact with the history of United as a football club, and he has often spoken about continuing the legacy of Ferguson. So, when Ten Hag saw Ferguson awaiting him, he was only ever going to head straight for the man regarded as a god-like figure in the eyes of those associated with United.
Ferguson is beaming as he goes to shake Ten Hag's hand, and the pair share a congratulatory hug. It was stark contrast to the look of deflation of Ferguson's face when the cameras cut him during United's 5-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford last season.
Credit: Matthew Peters via Getty Images
Ten Hag has had a transformative effect at United unlike any other manager has done during the nine prior seasons since Ferguson's retirement.
A desire to involve the man he is striving to emulate the success of, which included visiting a restaurant together last week and inviting him into the dressing room after the Carabao Cup final win, in addition to his determination to create his own history, speaks to Ten Hag's ambition to restore United to the place they should be among Europe's elite.
"I always enjoy speaking to people with a lot of knowledge and experience," Ten Hag said last week when asked about his trip to a restaurant with Ferguson. "He wanted to share it and he's glad we're doing well. It was a great night and I'm looking forward to the next one."
It is this willingness to maximise his tenure at Old Trafford which has seen Ten Hag gain success so early in his reign. And it is a measure of the speed of United's development this season that they managed to win the Carabao Cup final while not even at their very best.
Ten Hag's side started confidently on Sunday afternoon, finding a route in behind the Newcastle United defence with some expansive football to win a corner. But soon a game which started as an expansive affair became more nervy and Newcastle managed to get onto the front foot. United had to be gritty.
An early yellow card for Diogo Dalot spelled trouble for United given Newcastle's control of possession, but Ten Hag's team have shown nous when up against adversity this season. They showed commitment as a collective to pull through a difficult phase of the game, showing their resolve defensively with a number of tackles and blocks.
Credit: Julian Finney via Getty Images
Persistence paid off for United, with the quality within the squad paying off after Marcus Rashford won a free-kick in a deep crossing position. Luke Shaw's technical proficiency has come to the fore this term, and he delivered with pinpoint precision to meet Casemiro's header.
It was an indication of the possession of players with big game pedigree under Ten Hag - whether brought from externally or developed internally. Of course, it was Casemiro that was the man to step up and get his head on Shaw's cross.
Where they may have sat back and defended their lead in years gone by, the proactivity that has been brought back by Ten Hag this season was shown as United took advantage of their momentum and attacked the game. Six minutes after taking the lead, their lead was doubled.
Casemiro stepped up again to recover a loose ball, with Rashford subsequently knocking the ball to Wout Weghorst in a skillful manner. Rashford sprinted beyond Weghorst, who continued his carry until his team-mate was in support inside the box. The eventual effort from Rashford was skewed somewhat, but a deflection off Sven Botman was enough to guide the ball over Loris Karius.
Even if it wasn't consistently applied on the stage of the cup final, Ten Hag has worked wonders in restoring an entertaining brand of football to United during his time at the club so far. An identity has already returned after a period of identity crisis for the club - a phase filled with disjointed football.
The players have bought into Ten Hag's principles of always looking to play forward and get on the front foot in matches, even if the execution understandably sometimes still wavers given it remains the early stages of the Dutchman's time at the helm.
Credit: Andrew Kearns/CameraSport via Getty Images
Even with more development still to be made, a clear structure is being brought back to United's play both in and out of possession. Focusing on the latter, there is a wholesale commitment to pressing and working hard without the ball - something that often hasn't been a prominent staple in recent years.
Ten Hag won't stand for anything other than maximum application from his players, and that was evident against Newcastle as they displayed defensive stoutness in a situation they often rolled over in prior to this campaign.
Newcastle came at United again in the second half, but they proved able to weather it to an extent that they got over the line largely hassle free and with minimal nerves. It almost felt as though the win was never in doubt after United went two-up.
It was credit to a combination of factors that United were able to ease to victory in the end - first of all Ten Hag's management of the game.
There is more pressure than every on team selection in a final, yet he was vindicated for his choices. Continuity has been gained in terms of lineups under Ten Hag, so selection won't have been too tough a task in fairness. Weghorst was possibly the biggest sticking point due to his lack of goals, but his value in other aspects was shown through his work ethic and assist.
And when the time came to make alterations, his in-game managerial prowess was measured and nigh on perfect. Aaron Wan-Bissaka replacing the booked Dalot at half-time was probably the most impactful, with the right-back's recent development continued as he completely nullified the threat of Allan Saint-Maximum with his strength in one-on-ones.
While Wan-Bissaka added to the side's security with tackles and blocks, the additions of Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer for Fred and Weghorst around the halfway point of the second half allowed for Newcastle's addition of an extra attacker to be counteracted with avail. Sabitzer was quick to make his mark with a sliding tackle to launch a counter attack.
The later introduction of Jadon Sancho and then Harry Maguire for Antony and Rashford respectively added a final injection of fresh legs in the closing stages.
Credit: Sebastian Frej/MB Media via Getty Images
United's game management was highly effective. Ten Hag spoke pre-match about Newcastle's irritating time wasting habits in a Ferguson-esque fashion, yet he went on to deploy similar tactics to frustrate his opposition. It exemplified the lack of attractiveness to United's performance, but they reduced drama this way and got over the line through grit.
The replenished mentality within this squad was an invaluable contribution to the grittiness of the performance, with the developed team ethic a crucial contribution to this. A squad that was divided at times last season has been united into a tight-knit group under Ten Hag.
The players are completely willing to work within the best interests of one another, displayed by the likes of Shaw showing an openness to play out of position at times so far this season. They will put their bodies on the line, or in Lisandro Martinez's case his head, which caused him to suffer a cut against Newcastle, for each other too.
Martinez epitomises the devotion among the squad on the pitch, going into every duel with the complete belief that he will come out on top. This sort of thing was necessary when on the back foot at Wembley, and it gave United an edge that they haven't possessed in recent campaigns.
As a result, David de Gea was able to mark the return to the winners' circle with his 181st clean sheet - putting him as United's outright record holder. For his outstanding service to the club, any silverware while he remains at United will be entirely deserved for De Gea.
And De Gea is one of many leaders that have emerged that have really helped to propel United to a new level this season. Varane is another one of the many experienced heads that have come to the fore - often seen motivating his team-mates during the second half at Wembley and helping to inspire them to hold onto their lead.
Credit: Matthew Peters via Getty Images
Varane admitted in an interview that he came up with the idea for something that has become a defining feature of United this term too. He told the players "every gain, every tackle, every good action" should be celebrated to "create something" at the start of the season.
This notion of celebrating defensive actions has stood, with Casemiro notably celebrating having shepherded the ball out of play late in the first half. Like many things with Ten Hag's side, it is typifies the squad's dedication to completing every aspect of games to the very best of their ability while leaving everything out on the pitch.
The players' investment in the project is second to none. During the game and especially at full-time, the celebrations were filled with genuine passion - no matter past successes.
Varane and Casemiro enjoyed illustrious careers at Real Madrid, during which they won everything, and the former has even won a World Cup. But the Carabao Cup trophy was paraded and the win was celebrated with every bit as much vigour.
Casemiro has seemed to make it his mission to steer United back to the pinnacle of European football - not put off even by their wretched start to the season, which encapsulates just how vital a presence he is for the team through his character.
The players celebrating with the trophy all as one - no matter their status in the game - will have been a significant sight for every United fan given the wrath of reports about divisions and cliques within the squad last term. Ten Hag has helped to pull the squad together as one has instilled unity in abundance.
Harry Maguire presented this newfound harmony by offering to lift the trophy conjoint with Bruno Fernandes, who has led United by example as captain with Maguire's role more sporadic.
Credit: Matthew Peters via Getty Images
It was a welcome sight to see jokes shared on the pitch, with Sancho carrying a selfie stick and saying, jokingly, that Fernandes should have passed to him in the closing stages of the match. Fernandes' reaction was to give Sancho a kiss on the cheek - embodiment of the bonds within the squad.
The camaraderie stretched beyond being just player-to-player. "It is easy to forget the people not on the pitch," Luke Shaw ensured to make a point of in his post-match interview. "They deserve this as much as us."
Only last season, leaks emerged from players' camps describing Ralf Rangnick's assistant Chris Armas as being like fictional American coach 'Ted Lasso' - not meant as a compliment.
Now, shown by dressing room celebrations, coaches are fully incorporated as part of the squad, and the players are recognising how important they are to their own successes. Ten Hag even shared a dance with Ajax recruits Martinez and Antony on the pitch - evidence of his close connection with his players and status as one of the squad.
There is no wonder Ten Hag and his coaching team have commanded so much respect having orchestrated an inexplicable turnaround since losing the opening two games of the season, including 4-0 away to Brentford.
The task of turning fortunes around at United looked too big for any manager - a task of rebuilding a squad that had been hopeless in recent times and essentially stumbled over the line last term to the extent that they fell flat on their faces.
Ten Hag embraced the challenge, however, and has not only mobilised the squad, but has got them to step up and improve their mentalities to a level that appeared beyond their capabilities.
Credit: James Baylis/AMA via Getty Images
Shrewd recruitment has been part of what has fuelled the turnaround. Personality longed for by Ten Hag was added through the acquisitions of Martinez and Casemiro in the summer, while Antony's fearlessness is also a useful dimension that came to the fore against Newcastle.
The lower cost market was also exploited in the summer, with Christian Eriksen having been highly impactful, including in the Carabao Cup, prior to getting injured, and Tyrell Malacia proving himself as an excellent deputy for Shaw - arguably the best left-back in world football at present.
Rangnick said it would take several windows and "surgery at the open heart" for United to remotely challenge again, yet Ten Hag has guided a squad with many of the same players to a position from which they can challenge in a very short period of time. He has formed a team already able to reign supreme even on the biggest stages in the biggest games.
The nous in the transfer market extends to recent loan moves too, with two more handy characters acquired in January. Sabitzer has already proven influential in short period of time, while Weghorst has found a useful regular role amid Anthony Martial's constant injury issues - something Ten Hag has navigated well.
Weghorst is rapidly developing into a cult hero at United given the relentless work ethic he boasts, and his story is remarkable too; a matter of months ago, being a United player will have been a ludicrous prospect to the forward, let alone winning his first career trophy with the club.
The sight of Weghorst staring into the stands in awe post-match at Wembley was one to behold.
Credit: Adrian Dennis via Getty Images
Ten Hag's improvement of existing individuals is something that cannot be brushed over. Rashford is obviously the most pertinent in this category, with an astronomic improvement on last season exemplified by 32 goal involvements already this term - wildly superior to the mere seven contributions throughout the entirety of last season.
While Rashford has been developed into a force spearheading the United attack, the likes of Wan-Bissaka and Sancho have also benefitted from Ten Hag's management - the former coming back from a position in which he seemed completely out of favour, and the latter starting to excel after undergoing an individual training plan.
A perfect balance of coaching and Ten Hag's man-management ability has evidently been massively beneficial.
Football had often looked a chore to the players prior to Ten Hag's arrival, namely for the likes of Rashford and Sancho, and this has been turned on its head this term. Players are clearly now enjoying themselves again - likely down to the environment created by the lighter side of Ten Hag's being in addition to his laser focus.
On the pitch, smiles are no longer uncommon and the football is expressive - a clear indictment of the confidence and belief that has been instilled by Ten Hag.
Fans were calling for players' backs in the latter stages of last term, yet Ten Hag has promptly created a likeable group that supporters are able to feel connected to. The whole atmosphere around the club has been transformed - symbolised by this restored synergy between fans, players and staff.
The application of the players - and the manager and his staff, of course - is a big part of this, with those on the pitch blatantly playing for the badge again.
Credit: Matthew Peters via Getty Images
All around, there are positive reflections of the culture that has started to return to the club under Ten Hag. He has shown authority to get them in line, and the players clearly respect him as a result of the disciplinarian nature that he possesses.
Rashford was dropped against Wolverhampton Wanderers for arriving late to a team meeting, but he has since admitted he completely understands the decision. "If I was a coach, I'd have done the same," he told media close to the club. "Because if you don't have standards in the training ground, how do you expect to go out on the pitch and win consistently? It’s impossible."
Fernandes has provided further evidence of that buy-in too. "It has to be like this," he told Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport. "Or the younger ones will think, 'If he does nothing, next one he will do nothing with me too.'"
It has been made evident by players in interviews that these standards hadn't been set previously, and it is no coincidence that greater discipline under Ten Hag is correlating with improved performances.
Ten Hag valuably fears nobody, and external pressure doesn't matter to him. His dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo's disruptiveness was seamless despite the vast coverage of the situation. 'Step out of line and you're out' is unequivocally Ten Hag's ethos.
It is critical that big decisions like this are taken from the manager of a club of United's stature, and it speaks to Ten Hag's capability when it comes to managing a club of this magnitude. He has taken nigh on no time to adapt.
But it is important that he has managed to find a balance between authority and nurture, which has allowed him to command the respect he has from players - even those who don't play as frequently.
Credit: Jacques Feeney/Offside via Getty Images
The winning environment created by Ten Hag is such that, shown straight after the Carabao Cup final victory, like him, his squad are always striving for more. "I want much more," was one of the first things Fernandes said in the immediate aftermath.
"Be happy for 24 hours but not be satisfied," Ten Hag reaffirmed in his post-match press conference. "Because satisfaction leads to laziness. And when you are lazy, you can't win trophies."
There is very much a sense that this win is significant by the fact that it is a platform to build upon more than anything. Once the winning feeling is felt once, it is hard to stop chasing it again and again, with momentum able to be built.
The focus immediately switches to the three competitions that they remain in varying forms of contention for. It is to their credit that they are still fighting for every honour at this stage of the season, albeit there is some concern that it could prove their downfall due to the threat of tiredness associated with such fixture pile-up.
Even if the season is to fizzle out at some stage, United have a trophy to their name and remain comfortably inside the top four of the Premier League at present - the goal set prior to the season. And for this reason, the Carabao Cup victory is massively significant.
Ten Hag may not entirely admit that yet. After all, he is striving for even bigger and better things. When complimented by Robin van Persie in an interview for BT Sport, Ten Hag's response was: "Enough compliments, Robin."
The hard work that sees Ten Hag "in every morning at 7am" at Carrington and leaving "at 7pm", as Van Persie details, will only be amplified. He won't settle until he is at the very top. Mediocrity isn't an option.
Credit: Matthew Peters via Getty Images
The Carabao Cup is often regarded in lower esteem than other competitions, and while Ten Hag is obviously striving for Premier League titles and Champions Leagues, his drive is unwavering and saw him constantly name near enough his strongest side throughout United's winning campaign. He knows the value of any silverware to United fans.
The mood around the club, as a consequence of the outstanding job that Ten Hag has done, is almost wholly positive again. Even if dips are to come at some point, you get the impression that fans will no longer be demoralised. Instead, there is widespread hope again.
United are back on the right track. They may have 'only' won the League Cup in the eyes of some, but to United it is much more than that. It is something tangible to show for the progress they are making, and it is invaluably the end of a trophy drought spanning nearly sixth years.
It may be a stepping stone to better things, but it is one big stepping stone to further propel their rebuild onwards. And gaining success at the first time of asking under Ten Hag is a massive feat and an excellent sign of what is to come.
Their performance against Newcastle showed they aren't yet a fully-formed side, but that is encouraging by the fact that they got over the line and won a trophy without even being a completely fledged side yet.
The club have a manager who is all-in and has inspired his players to be the same, and this mentality is only going to guide them to even better places along their present upward trajectory.
"This is the club for me, Ten Hag said after the final. "I love Manchester United."
Credit: James Gill/Danehouse via Getty Images
Some labelled him Erik 'Ten Months' at the start of the season. Erik 'Ten Weeks' was even banded around after United's difficult start to the campaign.
But now, Erik "Ten Years" seems the most feasible label for the man at the helm of Manchester United.
He is quickly becoming their new hero. And he might just be the saviour they have desperately longed for.
コメント