Erik ten Hag’s first experience of the Manchester derby ended in a humiliating 6-3 defeat.
Three months later, much has changed for the Manchester United manager, whose team can move to within a point of Manchester City by beating the English Premier League champion on Saturday.
“It was a lesson and we took that lesson,” Ten Hag said on Friday. “And from that point on we made huge progress.”
The Dutchman actually thanked City manager Pep Guardiola in the wake of the derby in October.
City, he believed, showed his side the standard it needed to reach if United was to win a first title since 2013.
clean sheets following the six conceded in that match at Etihad Stadium.
His work on individual players has also been evident with Marcus Rashford rejuvenated and scoring 15 times.
“Maybe it is boring, but things are like that. That game (against City) was a setback, we can all find reasons why, but always you have to act, to deliver,” Ten Hag said.
“As a manager, a coach, you have to go to certain steps, you need a clear philosophy, a clear point where you want to go. Then it is about development and that is what we did. But like many things in life, particularly football, there is never an end point.”
