Manchester United endured a disastrous start to their 2022-23 Premier League season, suffering back-to-back defeats to leave them bottom of the table. But they’ve responded in style.
Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils have bounced back from the shocking 4-0 defeat at Brentford by winning four in a row. That run has included home victories against big-six rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.
The new boss has taken some bold measures since the poor start, dropping club captain Harry Maguire and top earner Cristiano Ronaldo, but the big calls have paid off.
“It’s paid off. I remember seeing people saying he’s got them in running,” Gary Neville said on Sky Sports following United’s 3-1 win over Arsenal.
“There were questions about that but it paid off against Liverpool because of the unbelievable difference. I have no idea what’s happened in the last three weeks that’s made them different to what they were at Brentford, I can’t put my finger on it.”
“If you remember what the manager did after the game [the Brentford defeat], and we talk about sports science. He brought them in the next day and ran them,” concurred Roy Keane.
“Sometimes you have to put a marker down and go, ‘Listen, if you want to play for Man United, whatever your qualities are, you have to run.’ They didn’t run at Brentford.
“He made huge decisions, but getting them in and going, ‘If you want to play for Man United you need to run,’ I think doing that is a good marker to put down.”
Here are 10 statistics that underline how impressive United’s uptick in form has been in recent weeks.
– United have bounced back from their bad start with four straight wins. That’s the best winning streak in Europe’s top five leagues at present, joint with European champions Real Madrid and Marseille in Ligue 1.
– They’re only the third side in Premier League history to win four in a row after losing their first two (after Tottenham in 2011-12 and Arsenal in 2018-19) – via @OptaJoe.
– Marcus Rashford has scored more goals in his last four Premier League appearances (against Arsenal and Liverpool, no less) than he managed in his previous 26. He’s just one goal off matching last season’s tally already.
– This is the club’s longest winning run since April 2021. That run of five league wins (Man City, Brighton, West Ham, Tottenham and Burnley) all but sealed United’s runner-up placing that season.
– It might not be the table they want to be top of, but 20…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Football365…