The 3 Main Things Erik Ten Hag Has Learned At Manchester United So Far

Erik ten Hag is three games — and three wins — into his Manchester United tenure after impressive victories saw his side score 11 goals across fixtures against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.

The manager has stressed that there is still a lot of work to be done to be ready for the start of the Premier League season.

However, he has also praised different aspects, including the way that the United squad are adapting to his style.

With so many talking points so far in Ten Hag's tenure, there will be a host of things that he's learnt since joining the squad.

Here are three important ones:

Sancho is the key

The most obvious, if he didn't know before, is that the key to United's attacking blueprint will be Jadon Sancho.

In the first three fixtures, almost everything has flowed through the 22-year-old with him grabbing two goals.

However, his passing in the final third has been joyous with the runs being made around him.

It is clear that Ten Hag has noticed that the playmaker needs willing runners in order to excel.

Manchester United

This is most likely why we will see Diogo Dalot continue aiding the winger on the right side.

Ten Hag has made it clear that he wants the right side to be as strong as United's left and that Sancho's relationship with the players around him will provide him a platform.

"I think the whole right side played really well," he said after the win against Melbourne Victory. "Because there's a good connection between Jadon Sancho and Diogo Dalot and also mixed in with Bruno, Martial and also McTominay."

Pressing is improving, but needs more

There have been snippets of the pressing that Erik ten Hag wants to implement at Old Trafford next season whilst on tour.

United caused Liverpool a host of problems in the first half of that game, and ended up scoring through Anthony Martial pickpocketing a defender.

Following games against Melbourne and Palace have also showed examples of what Ten Hag wants to bring, but there have also been problems.

United went behind early against Melbourne, and it was because the team was unable to press as a team.

"I don't want to talk about the individual because I think it was from the start, high up the pitch, the wrong choices and then it ends up like a pack of cards. It's not one individual, it is more the team who made mistakes." He said on the goal.

Since then, the manager has also highlighted another key area of improvement for the team in order to become a top pressing team.

"The timing, when you start the press for instance, I still see switches that we can avoid and can prepare a better press.” He detailed.

The importance of the frontmen in the press has been stressed by the manager, as he believes they will be rewarded with goals for their hard work.

“They do a lot of work and running, you see often with offensive players that they think they miss energy in the offence.

“But you see, they put a lot of energy in defence and get rewarded by scoring goals, because we’re winning balls high up the pitch.

“No opponent likes to be against the press in the defensive line, I think it’s a big advantage when you can do that, but you need the whole team.”

Martial could be a real option next season

Finally, Ten Hag would've realised that the French striker that looked destined to leave Old Trafford this summer could be a real option for the team next season.

From what he has seen so far, the Dutchman would be surprised at the fact that United would've been willing to let Anthony Martial go.

The past two years of awful form looks to be well behind the striker if this pre-season is anything to go by.

And even though these performances are to be taken with a large pinch of salt, this is what Ten Hag has to go by, and he will certainly be impressed.

Manchester United

With the manager's preferred playing style being a possession-based, pass and move operation, Martial's style will fit like a glove if he can transform his good form into the season.

Even if Cristiano Ronaldo ends up staying at Old Trafford next season, Martial has introduced himself as a proper option in Ten Hag's frontline with his performances under the Dutchman so far.