Man United are unexpectedly in the Premier League title race after a great run of form.
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What a difference 12 months can make.
Exactly a year agoManchester Unitedwere in disarray. They had just lost 1-0 to Wolves at home and thrown away a two-goal lead to draw at Aston Villa.Ralf Rangnickhad been drafted in to steady the ship but did nothing but rock it harder both on and off the pitch. Sadly his clinical analysis of the clubs problems were undercut by his sides continued poor displays.
There would be eight more defeats before the season finally reached its sorry conclusion: elimination from the Champions League to Atletico Madrid, a penalty defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, a 4-1 derby battering, a loss to Everton(!), 4-0 batterings by Liverpool and Brighton, a 3-1 hammering to Arsenal before finishing off in fitting style with a turgid loss at Crystal Palace. Sealing Uniteds worst-everPremier Leaguecampaign.
Also read:Everything is possible - Varane on a possible United title challenge
It was a bleak, weary and at times just boringly pointless campaign. The football was poor, the atmosphere was toxic and supporters anger eventually turned to apathy.
Just compare that to Saturday afternoon when Old Trafford was roaring like an ancient dragon finally woken from its slumber. Flame relit.
The belief is back. Like colour being breathed back into a dour, black-and-white world. Its palpable. The fact Erik ten Hag has done so much in such a short amount of time shows just how good a manager he is. What a difference indeed.
Belief inevitably leads to growing hopes and dreams and who can blame anyone for thinking United can now win the Premier League for the first time in a decade? They are the most in-form side in the division, have just beaten the holders and their local rivals, can move two points above them on Wednesday and then face the leaders at the weekend. If United can beat Arsenal then the hushed whispers will explode into full-blown excitement. Its not just supporters, either.
Everything is possible, Raphael Varane said after the derby victory. Well just take it game by game. Its a long way to go and its very difficult. The intensity of every game is incredible, the physical effort. Its like the same intensity of a big Champions (League) game every game.
The rhythm is very high. The players are very well prepared physically. We know how difficult it is. But were solid; were strong. We just need to use quality players with the ball.
If Uniteds great run continues expectations are naturally going to rise with it and that presents Ten Hag with a challenge he probably didnt expect to be facing. At least so soon into his tenure.
The Dutchman will have to ensure those expectations remain balanced and level-headed. Not only in his squad but amongst supporters as well. Its natural for fans to get giddy after being given little reason to get excited for so long but those positive feelings can easily turn to great resentment if the heightened expectations arent met further down the line.
Weve seen it time and time again. A team will perform far above its station for a period and when results begin to stutter a little as they return to the mean, the mean is no longer good enough. Victims of success. Even Claudio Ranieri wasnt safe from the boot after guiding Leicester City to a remarkable title triumph before going back to an average side.
Thats not to say Ten Hag is in any danger of being sacked in the slightest but it must be remembered what constituted success for United at the start of the season. A return to the top four, some nice football and a changed attitude was the remit, an end to the trophy drought in one of the cups would be a nice bonus. Absolutely no one was dreaming of title talk at any point of the campaign.
United will reach the halfway point of the season on Wednesday and to be in the discussion at this stage - though Ten Hag will rightly not claim it as one - is an achievement. If they manage to go on and win it would be remarkable. But not winning it would not be a failure.
Supporters will no doubt back their manager as they have done for the last decade, well beyond many other clubs fans would, regardless of what happens but disappointment is only natural. Ten Hag has given them permission to dream and it can be a blow when dreams dont come true.
Should the hot streak end, should results go back to being inconsistent, should United only achieve the top four and not win any silverware after once dreaming of much more, it will be Ten Hags job to make sure everyone keeps the faith. Because whatever happens United are finally moving in the right direction again.
United overcame their biggest issue to beat City
Ten Hag gives fans permission to dream of title challenge
There were three unsung heroes in Uniteds comeback win over City
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