Butt: Erik's really warmed to Manchester

Saturday 10 June 2023 07:00

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has been impressed with how manager Erik ten Hag has immersed himself in the local area during his first season in charge.

Butt, a member of the Class of '92, who made 387 appearances for the Reds, lives close to the boss and sees a man who has not only made it clear who is in charge at United, but embraced the Manchester culture.

“For me, the most impressive thing is his mannerisms, the way he portrays himself, the way he engages himself with the local area,” Butt told us recently.

“I've seen him where I live most days, so he's really warmed to the culture of Manchester and the people and, on the football side, from what I know - obviously, I'm not in the building now - is everyone knows who the boss is.

“I think that's important at a football club with so many big egos and big superstars around, you need to know who the boss is, and it certainly looks like everyone knows it's him.”

United's five best league matches in 2022/23

 Article

Which games stood out among the rest in the Premier League for the Reds this season?

Butt was speaking at a Soccer Aid media event, with the UNICEF charity match returning to Old Trafford this Sunday, as England take on the World XI.

Our former head of Academy left the club in 2021 but, as a Red, will still have been a keen observer as United won our first trophy in six years under Ten Hag.

He looks upon 2022/23 as a positive campaign overall, while admitting there’s still plenty of work to be done.

“I think it's a massive boost for every Man United fan really,” Nicky added.

“They are performing in the right direction; they've got a manager in charge who definitely knows what he's doing but also, he's the boss and he everyone knows that.

“It's something that Man United fans are excited about. There's still a long way to go, if I'm honest, to get to where we want to be but it's a massive step forward for the football club.”

Recommended: