Erik ten Hag Manchester United 2023-24Getty Images

Erik ten HagManchester UnitedManchester United vs BurnleyBurnleyPremier League

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has asked the fans for patience after a 1-1 draw against Burnley, as he made an interesting comparison.

Man Utd draw 1-1 against Burnley
Ten Hag asks for patience from fans
Compares struggles with 2004/05 season

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Andre Onana Man Utd 2023-24Getty Images

WHAT HAPPENED?

Man Utd dropped points yet again against Burnley and all but ended their hopes of making the top four this season. As a result, Ten Hag has received a lot of criticism for his tenure with the Red Devils. Despite being linked with a potential sack at the end of the summer, the Dutchman has remained positive as he pointed towards the former great teams also needing time to develop in order to become the juggernauts they were.

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to the media, Ten Hag asked for patience for the young team [via ESPN]: “We have some very young players and that is why we built this club back and that takes time. We built it by bringing in young players like Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund and Kobbie Mainoo and they are all in the first season of the Premier League. The Premier League gets more and more intense year by year. Those players have to adjust and that takes time. I am very impatient but we need patience.”

On teams needing time to develop, Ten Hag said: “The great Man United teams they also forget – 2004/05 – they didn’t play that great football. They were building and it takes time but everyone forgets, even the players who were in the team. They forget they were struggling and needed time to progress.”

Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester UnitedGetty

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As Ten Hag suggested, Man Utd did struggle in the 2004/05 season as they finished their campaign trophyless. They did, however, manage to develop a team with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as they went on to win the Premier League twice in the next three years to add to their Champions League title win.

WHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?

It is still uncertain if Man United will afford Ten Hag the time to develop the current crop of youngsters past the end of this season. His job security could very well hinge upon the result of their FA Cup final clash against Manchester City on May 25.