Pep Guardiola agrees with Erik ten Hag’s contentious Man Utd verdict

Pep Guardiola has agreed with Erik ten Hag’s recent verdict on Manchester United.

Despite the Red Devils’ mixed performances over the last few weeks, Ten Hag claimed on Wednesday night - after the scrappy 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest - that his side are showing consistency.

“Every win is important,” he said.“ This team, what they showed today, that’s great. They have to show it every game. I’ve seen it the last couple of months.

"We were consistent. We lost one time in 2024. We are consistent. It’s not so easy when you have the whole backline and we have to shuffle and play players in different positions. I’m very proud we did it."

Ten Hag’s assessment was largely based on a run of games of seven wins in nine since the turn of the year, but it’s a sequence that perhaps has masked a number of underwhelming displays. Two of those seven wins came against League One and Two sides, while United were somewhat fortuitous to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, Aston Villa and Luton Town in that period.

Ten Hag also offered a surprising verdict to last week's 2-1 loss to Fulham at Old Trafford, when he praised his players' character and said he felt his team deserved all three points.

But, ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola said he agrees with Ten Hag's view and said United have shown their capabilities in recent months.

“I prepare the game as best as possible knowing the quality because they are able to to Wolves - knowing how difficult it is to beat them,” said the Manchester City boss. 

“Going to Luton, I know how difficult it is to beat them and then to go to Villa and win a few weeks ago, not a few months ago. They have the biggest quality. From one action they create something from a set-piece or a transition in open play, connection with a few players and score a goal. Always they have been united in that way. 

“When they play well, they win games. In 2024, we are in March and they lost just one game, it was last week at home. The consistency they proved is there, especially in this year. We prepare the game tactically for what we have to do. We try to get three points and continue to be there.”