Manchester United have continuously turned heads with their on-pitch performances this season; they are slowly becoming a force to reckon with in the league, although there is plenty of room and time for further improvement.
The Red Devils showed their class against La Liga giants Barcelona when they played in the Europa League on Thursday night. They almost left the Nou Camp with a win, but Xavi Hernandez's side will have to thank Casemiro's misplaced pass for letting them back into the game.
The two sides had to hang onto a stalemate and are preparing for the return leg at Old Trafford after they have played in their various leagues this weekend.
Manchester United have to play Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City, which have recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season. They have also scored eight goals in their last two games, which shows the Foxes have come out of their poor form and are on a trajectory.
However, Leicester City's manager Brendan Rodgers is wary of his side's visit to Old Trafford, as he has stressed that the Red Devils are very tough to beat on their turf.
"I look at Manchester United and see the introduction of new players, if you think of (Christian) Eriksen and (Lisandro) Martinez, really outstanding players," Brendan Rodgers stated during his press conference on Friday.
He emphasized how Casemiro has influenced how Erik Ten Hag's side plays and why teams traveling to Old Trafford shouldn't expect much.
“In Casemiro, they have a real world-class player." He’s that comforting player for them. He’s got the experience, he’s got the quality, he’s got everything; he’s always calm, and the way he plays is at a high level. Thankfully for us, he’s not playing; he’s suspended. "He's given them a real stabilizing effect," he explained.
Erik (ten Hag) and his coaching team have given them good organization. Then they have a collective group of outstanding players. They have done very well and are up there competing; they played a good game last night. "I think their record at home shows they’re a difficult team to play against.”
Xavi Hernandez's statement after his side fought back to draw 2-2 with Erik Ten Hag's side on Thursday night concurs with Brendan Rodgers' thoughts. The Barcelona manager explained that Erik Ten Hag has transformed the Red Devils and has influenced how they play.
"In my mind, I believe that somehow (reversing) the situation at United was no easy task, and he's accomplishing it," he told BT Sport.
"They are excited again—the club, the fan base, and also the way they play a lot." "He changes things offensively and defensively; everyone's working very well, so it's a tough rival for us, and he's a very interesting coach."
"In my mind, he does great things—you know, variants of the line of three, the side players go inside, a lot of people go into the offense."
"He's an offensive coach, I believe, and he proves that in most of his games." "I believe he's a reference for offensive coaches who like this kind of football," Xavi Hernandez explained.
Everyone would agree with Leicester City's boss. However, when you get back to how the Red Devils started their season, it still has that chaotic campaign under interim manager Ralf Ragnick hovering all over it.
After a disgraceful home loss to Brighton Albion at their first Premier League game of the season at Old Trafford, let's not talk about the disastrous loss in London at the hands of Brentford a week later, the Red Devils have gone on to break expectations, losing just four times across all competitions. Erik Ten Hag banished those demons from the previous season.
They are still competing in all competitions as they aim to meet their agenda of ending their six-year trophy drought. They are also in the mix for the league title, but Erik Ten Hag has dismissed this notion on several occasions.
“We don’t think about that so far,” Erik Ten Hag answered during his press conference on Friday evening.
“What we have to do is put us, in April, in the right position, so our thinking can only be on the next game." "We always have to be better than the previous game and think about it game by game; that is where our energy and focus are."
“It means that we have to win on Sunday and collect the three points against Leicester, and that demands a lot of energy and demands high standards," Erik Ten Hag stated.
Bringing back Brendan Rodgers' statement about the Red Devils' home form, in which the 50-year-old claimed that Manchester United's home record is proof why they are a tough team to beat. Since their opening-day loss at Old Trafford to Brighton Albion, only one team has won at Old Trafford while two others settled for a stalemate.
Real Sociedad won them in their first group stage match of the Europa League, which ended 1-0 in a shocking defeat. Newcastle United and Leeds United are the two clubs to pick up a point at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Even the mighty Pep Guardiola's side were shocked after Erik Ten Hag's side completed a comeback against them at Old Trafford.
Stats shows that Erik Ten Hag's side haven't lost a game at home yet in their last 16 games.
With Brendan Rodgers' statement ahead of Leicester City playing at Old Trafford, more clubs will be wary of playing the Red Devils in front of the Old Trafford crowd. This only means one thing to an Old Trafford faithful. Erik Ten Hag has successfully brought the fear factor back to Old Trafford.
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