Erik ten Hag expecting specific trait from Southampton against Man United at Old Trafford

The Manchester United boss was speaking to the media ahead of his side’s Premier League fixture with Southampton this weekend.

Following the harrowing 7-0 defeat to Liverpool in his side’s last Premier League outing, Erik ten Hag will know that a clinical performance and positive result will be crucial in order to regain Manchester United‘s momentum in the league and secure their place in the top four as the season heads towards its final stages.

When promoted about what he expected from Southampton on Sunday, the Dutchman replied, “We have seen two weeks ago that Southampton beat Chelsea away, so we have to play an outstanding performance on Sunday to beat them.”

“At the bottom, it’s very close so they will be front foot, aggressive and do everything they can do to collect points here so we have to be 100% and give the best performance to beat them.”

Southampton are currently battling it out at the bottom for survival, but two wins from the last three have given the Saints a lifeline when all had looked lost just weeks before.

As Erik ten Hag mentioned in his press conference, Manchester United can expect an aggressive Southampton team on Sunday, with the Saints likely to press United’s backline and create opportunities from little moments, rather than long passages of play.

Since the appointment of Ruben Selles following Nathan Jones’ sacking, Southampton have won matches against Chelsea and Leicester, with their only other Premier League fixture being a narrow loss to Leeds United.

In these recent victories, Southampton have been effective when deploying an aggressive style of transitional play, focusing on shortening the time between winning the ball and getting it into dangerous areas.

This, combined with periods of intense pressing, may seem dangerous as was alluded to by Ten Hag in his interview, but could actually play right into United’s favour on Sunday.

The ability of United’s back four on the ball, notably Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, will provide an effective counter to this style, as United will be able to quickly transition the ball forward after intense periods of Southampton aggression, meaning that space left by Southampton when they attempt to overload United’s final third can be exposed.

In addition to this, Marcus Rashford‘s drive on the ball coupled with Bruno Fernandes‘ tendency to take contact should prove effective when used against a Southampton defence that is likely to employ an aggressive attitude when attempting to win the ball.

This will be further exaggerated should the Saints’ defence pick up any early bookings.

It is important that Manchester United build on their Europa League victory on Thursday evening in order to reassert themselves as one of England’s dominant sides again.

Manchester United host Southampton on Sunday 12/03/23 at 14:00 GMT.