The work of Erik ten Hag Although Manchester United prefers to play quick football, their plodding style of play allowed them to defeat West Ham.

For the most part of United’s season, chaos has reigned due to injuries and strange situations, some of which were beyond Ten Hag’s control and some of which were not. This has distracted the manager from his goal of building ‘the best transition squad in the world’.  This team has shown vulnerability to the kind of counterattacks that opponents expect to launch, and David Moyes has assembled a West Ham team that is capable of giving the “Big Six” some serious trouble.

If Ten Hag’s players hadn’t performed at their peak on Sunday, West Ham may have lost to United demoralizingly following potential “turning points” in the season, joining the likes of Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. 

Ten Hag asked his players to proceed cautiously at initially, which helped him avoid a possible hazard.

Several United games this season have turned into high-scoring, helter-skelter contests where the ball is handled like a hоt potato. In just a few minutes, United’s players had lost two goals because they are too eager to play quickly and aggressively, leaving them open to a cоunterattack.

Although Ten Hag emphasised the value of playing quickly at the beginning of the season, his players’ more deliberate decision-making during possession was largely responsible for this 3-0 triumph.

The pass map created by Bruno Fernandes (see below) is a great illustration of the strategy used.

Most of the passes made by the United midfielder go forward in an effort to provide support for his attackers. He slowed things down against West Ham, with a good number of passes sliding sideways or backwards.  

It was a wise choice.

West Ham relies heavily on taking advantage of unintentional mistakes, thus United was cautious with their passing and tried to stay out of trouble. When Kobbie Mainoo felt that the game was getting too fast, he repeatedly waved his arms in a “calm down” motion to his teammates. After playing head tennis for too long, the eighteen-year-old Mainoo and his manager called for the ball to stay on the ground.

United desired to make West Ham pay for their actions. They did, with the exception of a few corner kicks and one unfortunate header that let Jarrod Bowen in on goal.

But this victory was about more than just sideways passing.

Two young players who show promise and are gradually making their way into the first team scored two of United’s three goals. Midway through the first half, Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal. He got the ball on the outskirts of the penalty area, spun around Nayef Aguerd, and sent a shot with his weaker right foot into the bottom corner.

The striker, who turned 21 on Sunday, has already scored four goals in his last four outings and appears to be settling comfortably at Old Trafford.

Alejandro Garnacho, who was once again assigned a starting position on the right, scored twice to help convert what could have been a tense second half into a (relatively) easy victory. The 19-year-old’s tenacity is what stands out the most about his performance. Regardless of whatever side he is placed on or which full-back he needs to beаt, he just keeps running.

His touchmap shows that he is a player who isn’t afraid to put in the extra effort to get his team wins. 

Mainoo and Andre Onana both saw Garnacho a little too late in the first half, so he is not deterred if he breaks free and the pass is not made. As it happened, the Argentine’s first goal five minutes into the second half was due to a deflection off of Aguerd. Hojlund and Mainoo joined him in celebrating by sitting on the advertising board.

The picture of the three players giving positive signals for the club’s future is destined to become a fan favourite. Six minutes from time, Garnacho’s second goal put the game out of all doubt with a crisp finish into the bottom corner following a quick counter. 

After the game, Hojlund told Sky Sports of himself and Garnacho, “A month ago, there was a lot of talk about us not scoring enough goals, but we are both young and growing every day.” “The connection is evident to you.”

The play of the duo has a fresh, youthful energy. Hojlund and Garnacho are starting to get to know one another’s rhythms and bring out the best in one another. Because of their efforts, United won its home Premier League match on Sunday for the first time this season by more than one goal. Lisandro Martinez may have a knee ιnjury, which will damper any jubilation, but as more players return from ιnjury and playing choices increase, Ten Hag’s discussion of routines becomes more apparent in interviews.

When questioned about his team’s recent progress by the gathered media, Ten Hag responded, “You didn’t believe me—I have seen all your pieces.” The United manager proceeded to characterise his front line as a dynamic one that poses a threаt to all opponents. 

“They enjoy playing football and causing problems for their opponents,” he continued. They wish to engage in the activity together. The three kids rejoicing together, I believe… I have witnessed that it is about a team, not just one individual, today. It appeared to be a team effort with 11 players attacking and 11 defending, and I found it entertaining to watch.