Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has thanked Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ‘for bringing back the glory days at the club’.
The famous athlete is a lifelong Man United fan. He visited Old Trafford on Sunday when the Red Devils registered a memorable comeback win over Fulham to book their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Bolt got the opportunity to interact with Ten Hag and displayed his gratitude at the turnaround in the club’s fortunes.
He told the PA news agency (via The Independent): “The first thing I said to him was ‘thank you’. That’s the first thing I said and he was like ‘thanks for what?’ I was like ‘for bringing the glory days back’.
“It feels good to watch Manchester now. The team is together, they are as one. They are working together, they are working hard and you can see the purpose now, you can see the determination in the way they play.
“I was very happy with his progress and I can tell that he’s going to do a lot more. We have a lot more trophies in our future so I’m excited.
“When I was coming through, when your coach gives you so much confidence, you kind of believe that anything is possible.
“You want to work hard, you want to make him proud, you want to do great for him, so I think that’s what he’s getting from the players.
Manchester United can end the season with a treble
Since club football resumed after the World Cup, Man United have been one of the best teams across the big five leagues. They have played 25 games, winning 19 and losing only twice.
The Red Devils have already won the Carabao Cup, ending their six-year trophy drought. They have progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
In the Premier League, they are third with 50 points. Tottenham Hotspur are just below them, with one point less but having played two games more.
Unless United’s form drops drastically, they should qualify for the Champions League.
Many United faithful would have taken a trophy and a top-four finish before the start of this season.
They have the chance to win more silverware and get the Champions League football back at Old Trafford next season.
Ten Hag deserves praise for getting the best out of the players and changing their mindset to focus on winning.
