A LEAP OF FAITH FOR UNITED… AND TEN HAG
All parties pray this meeting will be a perfect match
THERE was no mention of gambles in the appointment of Erik ten Hag or suggestions that behind the scenes everyone has their fingers crossed.
There was only certainty and talk of unanimous agreement, implying Manchester United never wanted anyone else and none at all that the Ajax manager might harbour any doubt about what he was taking on. Yet the truth for both sides will surely be less certain.
The truth is that everyone at Old Trafford, the money men in Florida and those in Ten Hag’s camp, will be praying this meeting between a club on the slide and a coach on the up will prove a match made in heaven.
United insisted Ten Hag was the best candidate from a strong field which included Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui, Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino and Spain’s Luis Enrique, although the latter’s availability after the World Cup never fitted United’s timescale.
After interviewing Ten Hag, the reports are that United were impressed by what they believe is a proven winner, by his Ajax team’s attractive style of play, his commitment to youth and his coaching ability.
All of those are true and fit the idea the club still has about itself, despite evidence to the contrary. The rest of the press release, which talked about a shared commitment to take United back to their former glories – a task which has proved beyond David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since 2013 – has to be taken on trust.
And that is a leap of faith where neither side are sure of the footing on the landing. Looking at the positives, United are convinced they have secured one of the best coaches in Europe.
Ten Hag, 52, is a man whose attention to detail is forensic, whose control over every aspect of
training and the first team is unshakeable and whose reputation for attacking football make him just what they need.
He is said to be a stickler for punctuality, a 24-7 football obsessive who can exercise an iron-fist rule.
They also suggest he has been building his whole career to a job like Manchester
United. After taking up coaching at 32, Ten Hag has gone through secondtier Go Ahead Eagles, experienced a giant club with Bayern Munich II, managed Utrecht and on to Ajax, all teeing him up for this sort of step. Yet while it is rare a new manager inherits a side where everything is going well, the levels of dysfunction and inconsistent process at Old Trafford will be a challenge.
He needs to build a clear identity, repair broken team spirit, restore individual confidence and all while replacing virtually half the squad.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick talked this week about a possible 10 new players being needed, yet recruiting all at the same time would be a huge gamble.
Wages will not be an issue, but getting three of the right characters per window through the door will be tough and a lack of Champions League football, if they fail to reach fourth place, a handicap.
Ten Hag may be an inspired punt, not a reckless gamble, but there is an element of hope about his appointment.
Given time and resources to implement his philosophy and a receptive audience in the dressing room, Ten Hag will believe he can turn things around. Yet you cannot help but feel United’s board will be keeping their fingers crossed behind their backs as he tries to do it.
The club are convinced they have secured one of the best in Europe