The Man United boss would give a lot for Solskjaer’s away record of two seasons ago but he has already instilled something greater.
Arsenal felt the full force of the Anfield atmosphere in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, as Manchester United had done a month earlier albeit with a different outcome.
Even Roy Keane begrudgingly admitted after this weekend’s match that the ground is a fortress. “I don’t like saying it too much obviously having played for United but there is something bizarre,” he said.
“The energy that’s in the stadium, obviously the history of the club, it is very, very difficult.” Old Trafford held a similar fear factor during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign. Seldom did a visiting team come away with a win, and if they did it was a massive coup and cause for celebration.
That dissipated after Sir Alex’s retirement and the likes of Burnley and Middlesbrough have walked away from the Theatre of Dreams with wins in the years since. However, Erik ten Hag is slowly managing to turn Old Trafford into a crucible once again.
United have not lost at home in the Premier League since the opening 2-1 defeat to Brighton, which in hindsight of the season does not look as shoddy as it first did given how high the Seagulls are flying this campaign.
The Reds have not been defeated at home in any competition since the 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad in the Europa League group stages on what was a tacit evening upon the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Ten Hag’s era was kickstarted by a triumphant 2-1 win over Liverpool with victories over Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City following. There must be another honourable mention for the win over Barcelona in February too.
Many noted the electric atmosphere that night, as it was against Liverpool and Tottenham, but with the volume cranked up a notch. The club should be credited for listening to its fans, who requested for the pre-match music to be turned off 15 minutes before kick-off to help build the atmosphere.
Christian Eriksen was sidelined for the game having been dealt an ankle injury blow a few weeks earlier in January’s FA Cup game with Reading. But he was there watching on and he recently noted the difference in noise at Old Trafford from when he visited the ground as an away player compared to now under Ten Hag.
“The vibe in the stadium as an away player was intense but not really scary,” he explained. “And then coming here and playing every game, I do get why some people – especially now and how it’s going – are scared to play because of the crowd. [They are] good people, good fans.”
Harnessing a home record was something Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never quite managed to achieve. Admittedly, the unique Covid-hit season of 2020/21 saw spectators prevented from attending games but that didn’t stop United going on a terrific away run.
In fact, even when crowds returned, their 29-game unbeaten away streak was only halted in October 2021. The away table for the 2020/21 season saw United second, where they ultimately finished.
However, the home table saw them sixth having drawn four and lost six games at Old Trafford, conceding 28 goals – the most in the top four. If Solskjaer managed to replicate the home form of Ten Hag, United may have pushed City closer for the title that season.
In a reversal, United have been terrific at home this time around but static on the road, losing to all Arsenal, Liverpool and City, and only managing to salvage a draw at Stamford Bridge with a last-gasp Casemiro header.
However, in the current season’s Premier League home table, United are just a point off City in second and two off league leaders Arsenal. They’ve conceded the least amount of home goals to boot (eight).
It cannot be argued that the home form of the Reds is something that has brought praise and admirers. A trip to United is now a terrifying prospect again. Be hopeful at your peril.
The mission for next season is clear if they are to push for the title, but as for a debut season, Ten Hag can bask in making Old Trafford a fortress once more.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
