Manchester United’s recent past bodes well as they prepare for an FA Cup third round match against Wigan Athletic on Monday night.

United have won 18 of the last 19 encounters with the Latics. Shaun Maloney’s strike in April 2012 won Wigan their lone victory in this fixture. A decade later, the 40-year-old will be on the field as Wigan’s manager rather than as a winger.

Erik ten Hag, in the opposing dugout, has been haunted by an endless sequence of tragic historical landmarks. United lost 21 games in all competitions in 2023, the most defeats in a single calendar year since 1972.

Here’s how Ten Hag can avoid starting 2024 on the wrong foot.

Ignore the possibility of an uncertain future

In the week coming up to their visit to the DW Stadium, Manchester United announced a slew of contract extensions. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hannibal Mejbri, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all stayed, although there were several conspicuous omissions from the list of triggered clauses.

While Anthony Martial’s status has long been unknown, Raphael Varane has joined his compatriot in the limbo after approaching the final 18 months of his contract.

However, Varane’s importance in the present should not be overshadowed by an uncertain future. After returning from a weird exile, the Frenchman has been one of the few United characters to provide some kind of confidence in recent weeks. It is critical to stick with Varane even if Ten Hag has some extra defensive men available due to injuries.

Create connections

“It is clear that we are not consistent,” Ten Hag complained following United’s 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend. “Every time I say that it doesn’t matter how we line up, we have to win, but the routines aren’t there because we have to swap every time.” Football is fast, therefore you need to communicate quickly.”

However, sticking with the same players in the hope of different results is the definition of insanity. Antony exemplifies the dangers of a stubborn approach. The one-footed Brazilian has made 23 appearances for United in all competitions without scoring or creating a single goal. Antony last had an effect on the scoreboard away from Old Trafford in mid-April 2023.

Amad Diallo, United’s talented young winger, has returned from injury and replaced Antony in the second half of the defeat against Forest. He could make his debut on Monday.

Keep an eye out for set components

Manchester United conceded from two distinct deadball scenarios in four first-half minutes against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. The hosts appeared perplexed by Villa’s unconventional positioning of inactive players, but set pieces have been a weakness all season, with United shipping seven in the Premier League alone.

When Maloney was working as Roberto Martinez’s assistant with the Belgian national team, he was in charge of set pieces and had to fight his employer to divert training time to concentrate on his routines.

Maloney has definitely prioritized this underutilized part of the game as Wigan’s primary man; only three League One clubs have scored more set-piece goals this season than Wigan (ten). United should be cautious.

Play at a slower tempo than Wigan

While Maloney and Martinez disagreed on the significance of dead balls – the Spanish coach suggested that set-piece goals should be worth half the value of an open-play score – their sides are equally concerned with possession.

Wigan have a distinct style in League One, keeping onto the ball for extended periods of time and gradually working their way up the pitch, avoiding any opportunities to break quickly. Wigan, on the other hand, does not press high to regain possession, registering the fewest high turnovers in the third division.

Ten Hag appears to have dialed down United’s tempo in an attempt to reduce the wild displays in the early months of the season, turning their latest outings into frustratingly lethargic affairs.

Wigan’s eccentric approach suggests another mediocre performance, but United are at their best when their quick-footed forwards have space to rush into during transitional games. Ten Hag may be instructed to let go of the handbrake on Monday for the benefit of the spectators and the team’s success.