The major talking points were about two collisions that sent two players for early finishes, but there was a moment in Wrexham’s win over Manchester United that had wider relevance to how Erik ten Hag is managing his club.
It came when Paul Mullin was lying on the turf after being heavily barged by United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, the severity of the injury, later diagnosed as a punctured lung, leading to a period of more than five minutes with no action. Ten Hag used the time to talk with Travis Binnion, United’s under-21 head coach, about tactical issues he had seen developing in the game.
David Hughes, one of United’s professional development phase coaches, was also involved as Ten Hag and Binnion exchanged ideas. Hannibal eventually came across and received fresh instructions from Ten Hag and Binnion.
It was a microcosm of the macro plan that Ten Hag has for United’s academy, which he addressed in the pre-match press conference at the University of California San Diego.
Erik ten Hag watches Manchester United play Wrexham (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Manchester United via Getty Images)
“The under-21s is part of the first squad under my supervision,” he said. “We want to have a red line in our club, the principles and rules from the first team down to the bottom, how we want to play. We want to educate the team’s players in the United way and it’s easier to flow into the first-team squad, that’s why this trip is very useful for us.”
So Ten Hag’s presence at the Snapdragon Stadium was a natural continuation of that strategy. After his discussion with Binnion, which came early on, Ten Hag watched the rest of the game from the dugout alongside technical director Darren Fletcher, who takes a role in shaping pathways for players, often arranging loan deals. Binnion was left to oversee and instruct from the touchline, accompanied by Hughes.
The rest of United’s first-team staff and players had already boarded a flight to Houston for the game against Real Madrid. Ten Hag followed on after the Wrexham match, with the two kick-off times 22 hours apart, but the fact he stayed shows he is walking the walk on having joined-up thinking.
He saw several of his principles reflected in Binnion’s team. Alvaro Fernandez frequently came inside from his position at left-back, with Dan Gore filling the space vacated.
Alvaro Fernandez (Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Gore also picked the ball up off Bishop and drove forwards. On one short goal kick, Jonny Evans passed the ball into Gore with three Wrexham players circling. Gore was able to wriggle free and retain possession.
There was also the sight of two full-backs combining. Fernandez crossed for Marc Jurado to volley in, with the move having built nicely after United won the ball back high. Hannibal kept hold of possession in tight spaces and Shola Shoretire threw himself into a challenge to keep the momentum going.
United were committed in their tackling, but Gore was adjudged to have gone too far two minutes after the break. This collision, with Andy Cannon, was much softer than the first in which Mullin was forced off, but referee Mark Allatin decided Gore should go, too, immediately issuing the red card.
Bishop was perhaps fortunate to only get a yellow card for clattering Mullin, then Fernandez was booked for a foul. In a way, these moments were also an echo of Ten Hag’s mentality, earlier on this trip he said United “don’t do friendlies”.
Paul Mullin (Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The red card snuffed United’s attempt at a comeback following two Wrexham goals each converted at the far post, with defenders guilty of slow reactions. Wrexham’s third was a nicely constructed move and even though United dominated the ball, they didn’t create many chances. Wrexham, on the other hand, were direct and streetwise in how they attacked. A useful lesson for United’s young players.
Speaking inside the Snapdragon Stadium, Binnion expanded on the academy approach under Ten Hag, especially the close proximity of a pre-season tour.
“Erik has been brilliant for us,” he said. “It’s been really insightful for the staff to spend three days with him. He couldn’t have been any more welcoming, any more open. We were sat in Real Madrid preps, Arsenal debriefs, talked about Wrexham together, he was at training yesterday, and, obviously, he has been really supportive.
“He has allowed us to get on with it, he has given his thoughts. It’s been brilliant for our staff and players to have that experience over these last few days.
“He and the staff give us real clarity in what they’re after. Did we achieve that tonight? No. We have a lot to work at, but we’ll get there. It’s really brilliant we have a manager who wants to see an identity flow through the club and we know what we’ve got to go after and achieve.”
Binnion’s players regularly train with Ten Hag’s squad during the season.
He added: “The amount of opportunities our players got last season on a daily basis for him to look at, to be a part of it, to learn, we literally cannot ask for any more. Any manager should want that, but our manager goes above and beyond to make sure we have a really good programme and alignment.
“The under-21s has to mirror the first team (tactically), so we have made moves to ensure that happens, in terms of programmes, schedules, players and, bit by bit, we will look more like them and the players will become accustomed to it, they will transition easier.”
(Top photo: Erik ten Hag with John Murtough; Kevork Djansezian/Manchester United via Getty Images)
