Erik ten Hag stood clutching the Bangkok Century Cup with Bruno Fernandes as the music thumped and the confetti pumped and the staged celebrations got underway.
Above him, the giant scoreboard at the Rajamangala National Stadium read: Manchester United 4-0 Liverpool. Ten Hag’s first game as United manager and here was his first trophy. It was quite the start.
The expressionless look on Ten Hag’s face told a rather different story. He knows that events here on a sticky night in Bangkok are far removed from the cold reality of Premier League football. When United face Liverpool at Old Trafford next month, it will be in very different circumstances.
Jurgen Klopp said before this game that there are no friendlies between these two clubs, but there actually are and this was one of them.
Klopp played three different teams, changing all 10 outfield players after half an hour and 60 minutes. Ten Hag also made 10 changes at half-time, so we should only read so much into the result.
But 4-0 against any Liverpool team these days is not to be sniffed at, and Ten Hag would certainly have faced some serious questions if the score was the other way round.
When he shook hands with his assistant Steve McClaren at the final whistle and was met with raised eyebrows, it suggested that even they were surprised by the margin of victory.
Ten Hag doesn’t come across as a man who will get easily carried away, though. ‘We will not over-estimate this result,’ he said. ‘It will take time and I have seen a lot of mistakes. We have to work hard to cut them out but, of course, we are happy.’
The Dutchman will be encouraged that United had four different scorers in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Jadon Sancho, Fred and Anthony Martial were on target before half-time and Facundo Pellistri added a fourth.
If Ten Hag can coax more finishes from Fred like his exquisite chip over Allison then he really is a special coach.
The players are clearly buying into his philosophy. Martial isn’t known for his work ethic, but the way he robbed the ball from Rhys Williams before scoring a solo effort demonstrated the benefits of the pressing game Ten Hag demands.
Eric Bailly seized a rare opportunity in the second half by showing the new manager just how good a defender he can be, although this is likely to be one of the Ivorian’s last appearances for United.
For Liverpool, this result felt much less significant. Klopp won’t dwell on it too long as they head to Singapore for a match against Crystal Palace on Friday.
‘The game came too early,’ he said. ‘United had a week longer with their core group and they did really well. The result is there, we have to accept it.’
It may have turned out differently had the impressive Luis Diaz, Fabio Carvalho and Mo Salah not all hit the post.
More worrying, perhaps, was the sight of record £85million signing Darwin Nunez firing over an unguarded goal on his debut when Salah’s effort rebounded to him.
Nunez can blame those blisters. Ten Hag’s problem now might be keeping everyone’s feet on the ground.
tobbdkmno
65
and klopp has officially launched the book of excuses for the year 2022/2023 by saying "Man utd had a week longer for training and the game came too early" Get your copy for more excuses
Saiduka
47
This is just the beginning
anthony90
44
If man u lost the story would be a different one. Klopp wasn't happy with the result and changed most of his players in the first half but his trick still didn't work out. I have said it before that man u players need who can change their mindset and how they play. They have learnt a more classic way of playing football. From their quick pass, movement and smartness. They will continue to improve.