Erik Ten Hag Speaks On His Ability To Succeed And Why Manchester United Will Play Differently To His Ajax Team

Erik ten Hag’s move from Ajax to Manchester United is certainly a step up in the footballing world due to the nature of both the club and the fact the side competes in the Premier League.

Some have questioned if the manager has the ability to make the step up from the Dutch league, which is often viewed as inferior in the face of the mammoth that is English top-flight football.

The Manchester United job in particular has claimed a number of victims in the last decade. David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis van Gaal all ultimately failed in their objectives, and although the latter and Jose Mourinho found limited success within their stints at the club, the overarching theme is that no manager is yet to properly ‘succeed’ in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

When asked on how he can succeed where others have failed, Erik ten Hag was strong in the backing of his ability.

“I must say, I have a strong belief,” the Dutchman detailed. “This is a big challenge, but until now everywhere I’ve been I’ve got the maximum out of my teams.

Erik ten Hag in training. (Man Utd)

“This is the project that is the most difficult, I realise that, but I am here, so I am convinced that I can do it.”

The manager has set out some short term targets for the club with the aim of building it back up brick by brick.

“The first target is to win every game, that has to be our approach, that belongs to Man United.

“It is a pleasure, that’s why I took it, I know it’s not an easy job but that gives me some joy and energy, that together with all the people around, to make a unified co-operation. That has to be the platform for success.”

One very attractive part of Erik ten Hag that convinced the club to secure his services was the playstyle he enforces.

His Ajax sides over the past few seasons have been a nothing but a spectacle of beauty to watch, and the football on display yielded brilliant results, including three league titles and a fantastic Champions League campaign in 2019.

On his playing style, Ten Hag commented, “We want to play proactive, attacking football where it’s possible. We want to play good, but if we don’t play good we still have to win.”

Many have pondered on how similar this Manchester United side may be to his Ajax team, however the Dutch manager has set the record straight.

Frenkie de Jong in discussion with Erik ten Hag at Ajax in 2019. (Alamy)

“Our team will be different (to Ajax’s) because it is different players, a different type of football, that is clear.

“Finally, it is about the players you have because I cannot change the identification (characteristics) of a player.”

One key problem that has faced managers of Manchester Untied in the past is not properly getting their messages across to the players.

Be that due to a language barrier, a player’s attitude or a breakdown in the coach-player relationship, it has been hard for those previously in the position. Ten Hag, however, has a clear way in which he wants to manage his messages and make sure the players understand.

“It’s a lot of let’s say a package of tools you have as a coach — of course training sessions, you have meetings, collective and also individual, and they all have their own theme and topics.

“It is a process and finally it has to stick together — it has to be a structure in the team, a platform for how we can win games.

“The players have responded well to the demands we have, I have. I set some standards, we introduce how we play, and I’m satisfied with that.”

It has been reported that Erik ten Hag set out five key new rules around the training ground, and by the sounds of it, the players are so far adhering to and responding well to these rules.

“This is why we started them (the players) quite early — fitness. But also I wanted to bring in a certain way of playing, it won’t be done when we finish pre-season, but when we finish pre-season we have to get results.”

Erik ten Hag and his squad will continue their pre-season tour against Crystal Palace on Tuesday. There are four fixtures left after a 4-0 victory over Liverpool and 4-1 win against Melbourne Victory, with Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano also lying in wait for the Red Devils.