Manchester United have been involved in their fair share of thrillers this season.
There has been no fewer than four separate 4-3 scorelines during the 2023/24 campaign, albeit with Erik ten Hag‘s side the victors only once, knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup but losing by the odd goal in seven to Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Chelsea.
The so-called ‘Manchester United way’ may be an idea built upon the foundations of end-to-end attacking football, and goals by the bucketload. The issue for Ten Hag, however, is that United used to emerge victorious in games such as these.
If the Dutchman’s Old Trafford spell is indeed brought to an early end by Ineos this summer – seeing out just 66 per cent of his three-year contract – then Ten Hag’s chaos-ball tactics and his failure to create a United side capable of controlling or seeing out games will be one of the nails in his coffin.
Ten Hag’s backers, however, will point out that one of the managers tipped to take his place saw his own team throw away a three-goal lead in the space of just eight minutes on Monday night.
Manchester United admire Bologna boss Thiago Motta
Thiago Motta’s Bologna were 3-0 up and cruising against Juventus until a stunning collapse at the death.
In fairness, this a rare exception. Bologna had conceded only 27 goals in Serie A until Juventus came to town. They still have the division’s second-best defensive record outside of champions Inter Milan.
The underlying principles that are so key to Motta’s gameplan, meanwhile, were clear to see from the off on Monday.
Juventus nearly conceded the opener inside the first minute, Bologna pressing high, forcing a turnover and very nearly punishing their visitors. The goal which put the Rossoblu 3-0 up came out of a similar approach, luring Juventus into a trap and turning defence into attack in an instant before defender Riccardo Calafioi scored with an impressive chip.
Two years after his appointment, we are still yet to really work out what an ‘Erik ten Hag Man United side’ is. You cannot say the same of a Bologna outfit with Motta’s fingerprints all over it.
- READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano names the four positions he’s convinced Man Utd will sign players this summer
Bologna desperate to keep United-linked manager
Bologna will be playing Champions League football for the first time next season, meanwhile is testament to the remarkable work Motta has done.
The former Inter Milan, PSG and Barcelona playmaker has proven that his superb reading of the game remains equally useful in the dugout as it did when he was pulling the strings on the pitch.
No wonder Bologna are desperate to keep their extremely highly-rated, 41-year-old tactician.
“We will do everything,” Bologna president Joey Saputo told DAZN after Bologna stayed ahead of Juve in third place.
“We will meet him this week to ensure that this path continues.”
According to The Telegraph, Motta is one of a number of exciting, modern-minded tacticians admired by Man United’s new decision makers Ineos.
They like what they’ve seen from Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim too, as well as Girona’s Michel. The latter, guiding Girona into the Champions League, has worked similar wonders to Motta over in Italy, with similar degrees of success.