Erik ten Hag has expressed his desire to achieve "higher targets" at Manchester United after collecting an award at the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Northern Managers ceremony.
The 53-year-old accepted his award on Sunday night after successfully steering the Red Devils to EFL Cup glory last season, ending the club's six-year trophy drought.
Success in the EFL Cup was followed by a third-placed finish in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification, and an appearance in the FA Cup final where Ten Hag's side narrowly lost out to rivals Manchester City by a 2-1 scoreline at Wembley Stadium.
Since then, Man United have endured a turbulent 2023-24 campaign under Ten Hag, who has come under increased pressure after losing eight of his first 16 games in all competitions.
Back-to-back 3-0 home defeats to Newcastle United and Man City in the EFL Cup fourth round and Premier League respectively condemned the Red Devils to their worst-ever start to a season for 61 years.
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Man United managed to avoid a third successive loss and returned to winning ways with a slender 1-0 victory at Fulham on Saturday, Ten Hag's 50th win as manager of the Red Devils, courtesy of a second-half stoppage-time goal from captain Bruno Fernandes.
The 20-time English top-flight champions are now gearing up for a potentially pivotal Champions League group-stage clash with Copenhagen on Wednesday, three days before taking on Luton Town in the Premier League ahead of the international break.
Ahead of the trip to Denmark, Ten Hag addressed United's current predicament at the FWA dinner party when collecting his award and has insisted that the club are heading in the "right direction".
"I'm sure we are in the right direction and I'm happy to be here and to get this reward. I'm really grateful to the football writers for this award," Ten Hag said during his acceptance speech as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
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"What we achieved last year with the Carabao Cup, it was small, and we achieved an FA Cup final, which still hurts, but it's not enough, but many managers and many players know, it's not so often you win many trophies.
"But once you win such a trophy, you have to celebrate it because it's a very special moment which is not given to so many. So we did that, and we are still really pleased with it, but it's not enough at Manchester United. We have higher targets and we have to go and get there."
Man United currently sit third in Group A of the Champions League at the halfway stage and victory over Copenhagen – who they beat 1-0 at Old Trafford two weeks ago – would see them climb into second place if Galatasaray drop points away against group leaders Bayern Munich.
In the Premier League, the Red Devils are currently placed eighth in the table and six points behind the top four, although they managed to gain some ground on their European-chasing rivals as Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion all dropped points last weekend.
Oliver Thomas
