<h2><strong>Manchester United’s Tactical Identity Crisis Under Ten Hag</strong></h2>
<p>Manchester United’s <strong>2024/25 season</strong> exposed deep tactical inconsistencies beyond their league position. Erik Ten Hag, celebrated for his Ajax-inspired approach, has struggled to instill a coherent identity at Old Trafford — reflected not only in inconsistent results but also in the team’s rhythm, structure, and role clarity.</p>
<h2><strong>Shifting Gameplans, Confused Roles</strong></h2>
<p>Week after week, United alternate between pressing high and sitting deep, between possession play and direct counters. This stylistic micromanagement leads to systemic confusion. Players aren’t sure of their roles; transitions are sluggish. Their press is disjointed and easily bypassed.</p>
<h2><strong>Brighton as a Case Study</strong></h2>
<p>The 1–2 home defeat to Brighton underlined structural weaknesses. Ten Hag opted for a narrow 4‑2‑3‑1 with inverted fullbacks — but instead disrupted midfield balance. <strong>Casemiro</strong> was numerically disadvantaged, allowing Brighton to dominate possession. United’s press collapsed — Højlund pressed alone, wingers dropped too deep, and the midfield failed to support :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.</p>
<h2><strong>Squad Misalignment</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Wingers</strong> like Antony and Rashford thrive in isolation but struggle in combination play.</li>
<li><strong>Mason Mount</strong>, expected to energize midfield, often seems misplaced.</li>
<li><strong>Bruno Fernandes</strong> is overloaded with creativity and defensive duties—undermining his influence.</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>The Missing Tactical Alignment</strong></h2>
<p>United possess quality—costing over £500m in recent windows—but lack a clear tactical foundation. Ten Hag’s attempt to blend possession football with Premier League pragmatism has resulted in a fractured team: <em>too passive to dominate, too unstructured to counter.</em></p>
<p>Manchester United have conceded the first goal in <strong>8 of their last 12 league games</strong>, symptoms of slow starts and undefined pressing mechanisms :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.</p>
<h2><strong>Conclusion & Call to Action</strong></h2>
<p>Unless Ten Hag establishes <strong>core principles</strong>—be it pressing triggers, midfield equilibrium, or build-up clarity—United will continue to underperform relative to their talent.</p>
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