GET READY TO SUFFER
Ruthless Ten Hag will lay down law at United
MANCHESTER UNITED’S players should brace themselves for a reality check when Erik ten Hag takes over as manager.
The Dutchman has heard all the whispers about dressingroom unrest over the club’s decision to bring him in from Ajax rather than look towards former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
But Ten Hag will lay down the law when he arrives at Old Trafford on July 1 – and has previous experience of stamping out player rebellions at both Utrecht and Ajax.
When Ten Hag returned from a two-year spell with Bayern Munich reserves to take over his first Eredivisie club in 2015, his methods were questioned by senior players within weeks of his arrival.
Captain Willem Janssen and experienced defender Mark van der Maarel were asked to speak with sporting director Wilco van Schaik on behalf of a squad who felt Ten Hag was out his depth.
Van Schaik’s response was: “Give Ten Hag time. If you go with him, then something beautiful is ahead.”
When Ten Hag departed for Ajax two years later, Janssen admitted he had “done a brilliant job” after steering Utrecht to a top-four finish.
Janssen said: “I’ve played for a few great managers, including Steve McClaren, but Ten Hag is simply the best.
“I’m not alone in this. Everyone at Utrecht thinks so – and I think it’s the same at Ajax.”
Indeed, there is huge disappointment in Amsterdam that Ten
Hag has taken up the challenge of rebuilding United after another season of underachievement at Old Trafford.
Yet, within six months of his appointment at Ajax, questions were being asked about his intense coaching methods and style of man-management.
It was only the intervention of director of football Marc Overmars that bought Ten Hag some valuable time.
The Dutchman used that lifeline by addressing each player individually to explain how they could bring the best out of each other.
Former Ajax captain Lasse Schone revealed how the foundations were laid for a period of dominance that has brought Ajax two Eredivisie titles. Schone said: “We had a team that included Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Daley Blind, Dusan Tadic (below), Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech.
“It was such a pleasure to play with such good players – the fun, our mutual bond, the open-mindedness, the great games and the results.
“If Erik ten Hag gets the time, he can also create something beautiful at Manchester United.
“The first six months at Ajax did not go well for him, even though we saw Erik’s intentions and he said sensible things tactically.
“But a good dialogue developed between Erik and the players later.
“Then we really understood what he wanted from us – and he told us he wanted to be able to rely on us.”
Schone believes an outstanding Champions League performance at Bayern Munich, as Ajax marched all the way to the 2019 semi-finals, was the turning point for
Ten Hag. He added: “We walked through brick walls for each other and everyone wanted to achieve something, individually and collectively.
“Benfica, Real Madrid, Juventus were defeated – and Tottenham almost.
“Once his ideas came across and the connection was there, the hunger under Ten Hag really exploded.”
And Ten Hag has revealed that, despite Edwin van der Sar’s anger about losing his manager to United, the CEO of the Amsterdam club has not put a clause in the transfer to Old Trafford which would stop the Dutch boss from signing Ajax players.
Brazil winger Antony and Holland international defender Jurrien Timber are high on Ten Hag’s wanted list and he has hinted some of his stars would be happy to follow him to United.
Ten Hag said: “I have no deal with Ajax about taking anyone to Manchester United.
“I have a few really good players and have a fantastic bond with them, but it is not right to discuss that now.
“My focus is on winning the title with these boys.”