“I’m so happy when he joined us now he’s the reason we won this game. It’s nice that we have someone that understands football” – This is according to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand as confirms the impact of Wilcox: This altered statistic indicates that Ten Hag adhered to directives against Sheffield United.

Manchester United faced setbacks twice against bottom-ranked Sheffield United at Old Trafford but eventually secured a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.

An error from Andre Onana allowed Jayden Bogle to score first for Sheffield United, but Harry Maguire equalized before halftime. Sheffield United regained the lead in the second half through Ben Brereton Diaz.

Bruno Fernandes then stepped up, scoring from the penalty spot to level the score after Maguire was fouled in the box. Fernandes followed up with a powerful long-range shot to give United the lead before assisting Rasmus Hojlund, who ended his scoring drought.

While it wasn’t a flawless performance, there were indications of a change in style for United. Technical director Jason Wilcox reportedly encouraged manager Erik ten Hag to adopt a more possession-oriented approach, deviating from his previous high-transition style.

United showcased their ability to retain possession, ending the game with a 72 percent possession rate and completing 722 passes compared to Sheffield United’s 288.

This shift allowed United to control the game, although they could have scored more if not for the impressive goalkeeping from Wes Foderingham.

Starting Christian Eriksen to dictate the tempo, United displayed patience and ball retention, especially effective against a deep-defending Sheffield United. With Burnley up next, this possession-focused style is expected to continue.

However, the real test will be against stronger opponents like Newcastle United, Brighton, and Arsenal. These matches will determine if Ten Hag can instill bravery and courage in his players to maintain possession against tougher opposition.

Fans are eager to see how Wilcox and Ten Hag collaborate in the final stages of the season and if this new possession-heavy approach persists. It remains to be seen if the players can adapt to such a significant change mid-season.