‘Frightening’ Erik ten Hag working with ‘superheroes’ at Man Utd as Benni McCarthy backs methods of Dutch coach to deliver on expectations

The Red Devils have looked short on special powers at times through the opening weeks of the 2023-24 campaign, with inconsistency continuing to hold them back. It was a similar story 12 months ago, though, and Ten Hag ended up delivering Carabao Cup glory and a top-four finish.

McCarthy, who has been drafted in to help coach United’s collection of forwards, believes in Ten Hag’s methods and expects a demanding coach to hit lofty targets. He will be leaving no stone unturned in a bid to get the Red Devils performing at their best, with it abundantly clear who is in charge at Old Trafford.

Former Porto and Blackburn frontman McCarthy has told radio station 947 in his native South Africa of working at United with Ten Hag: “Both my jobs as a coach at Cape Town City and AmaZulu, if you put them together, it doesn't come close to the workload that's being done at Man United. It is relentless, but that is expected because of the levels and the amount of world class players you deal with on a daily basis. We've got to be prepared every single day. At seven in the morning we're in the office and delegating the training sessions, the individual schedules, all the data. Then the players come in, you have your individual meetings.

“You're in the office working tirelessly on new content. And then six in the evening, that's when you leave to go home after a long day. And that's just working as an attacking coach. The manager is frightening. But when you see the progress the team is making, you don't mind those hours you put in. When you see the success Man United have everywhere in the world... We are like superheroes.”

McCarthy made an impressive impact with United in 2022-23, as he helped Marcus Rashford to post a career-best goal return of 30 efforts across all competitions, but the England international has looked a little out of sorts this season and the Red Devils are still waiting on £72 million ($87m) summer signing Rasmus Hojlund to burst into life.