2 years ago
Many fans believe Erik ten Hag will be the next permanent manager of Manchester United, and he has reportedly been interviewed for the position. Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but his present club Ajax is expected to lose their manager this summer.
After witnessing his Ajax club go undefeated in the Champions League group stages before being knocked out by Benfica in the knockout rounds, the Dutchman is garnering plaudits across Europe. They are also in first place in the Eredivisie, with a goal difference of plus 69 after only losing three games.
Ten Hag, who is 52 years old, is in his prime and possesses all of the qualities required of a United manager. As part of Ajax's ideology, he has bred young players and rebuilt the team from the ground up after they were dismantled following their Champions League run in the 2018/19 season.
Our writers Casey Evans, Omar Garrick, and Mike Parrott examined what Ten Hag will bring to the post of United manager ahead of any probable move. To begin with:
Omar Garrick says... Style of Play
United's style of play has been one area where they have been lacking recently. Now, I'm not claiming this was always the case under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's leadership, but it feels like the club hasn't had a consistent style of play since Sir Alex Ferguson left. I know United used to play counter-attacking football under Solskjaer, but fans have been clamoring for the team to crush lower-league opponents. They've suffered in this area since they can't control games.
You'll have a particular style with Ten Hag, but I have a feeling it will be significantly different from what we see at Ajax. Why? Because he's already stated that his worldview must be based on the DNA of a sports team. United is not like the Amsterdam team.
He also alters his strategy based on the opposition. Ten Hag's preferred formation is a 4-3-3/ 4-2-3-1, which switches to a 3-4-3 during the game. Of course, seeing this at Old Trafford would be refreshing because it would be different. The Dutchman would undoubtedly play offensive football, as he prefers it to the defensive parts of the game.
United's wingers, such as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, have the potential to elevate their game to new heights. Dusan Tadic and Antony have been outstanding on the left and right sides of the attack this season, allowing Sebastian Haller to score 10 Champions League goals in the first six group stage matches. Consider what Ten Hag could accomplish if he can get Rashford and Sancho to assist Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mike Parrott says... The Ajax invasion
If Manchester United does hire Ten Hag, the Dutchman may face a short-term challenge. The unbearable pressures of managing Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as having to compete on a weekly basis with Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Thomas Tuchel. Ten Hag would require assistance.
Ten Hag would almost certainly travel to Old Trafford with his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag. It's also not out of the question that Ten Hag will bring certain Ajax players to United. It's not uncommon for a new manager to bring in a general from their previous squad to make his stamp on the team while also having a voice in the locker room from a player's perspective.
Edson Alvarez and Noussair Mazraoui, for example, could be two Ajax names who could be signed cheaply while also filling voids in United's team. Under Ten Hag, Alvarez, who began his career as a centre-back, has evolved into a defensive midfielder, same to how Declan Rice has progressed.
Mazraoui, a 24-year-old right-back, is a free agent this summer. A flexible player like Mazraoui, who is six feet tall and can also move into midfield when needed, would be a very clever but smart signing to provide competition and rotation for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.
Casey Evans says... He’d be the best bald manager in the Premier League
As you might expect, Guardiola now holds the championship, but with the squad available to Ten Hag and his style of play, you'd think he could build a name for himself and compete with the Premier League's top managers. His exploits with Ajax have already wowed a large number of supporters.
This season, he won both games against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and the supporters were thrilled not only by the outcome, but also by the way Ajax played in both games. If he comes to Old Trafford, United fans will be hoping he can repeat his success.
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