It’s official; Manchester United today have announced the appointment of AFC Ajax tactician Erik ten Hag as their next long-term appointment at Old Trafford.
Following a highly successful managerial career in the Eredivisie spanning eight seasons after cutting his teeth with Go Ahead Eagles as well as a stint in charge of Bayern Munich II, ten Hag has signed an initial contract that will see him take up his new post through 2025.
But reports have already begun to rise to the surface claiming that some inside the United squad have been left underwhelmed by the appointment, according to The Guardian’s Manchester football correspondent Jamie Jackson.
Erik ten Hag’s appointment has had a mixed reception from the #mufc squad, with some players ambivalent and other underwhelmed #mulive [@JamieJackson___]
— utdreport (@utdreport) April 21, 2022
Despite his success at one of the most storied clubs in football history, which included an unexpected magical run to the semi-finals of the Champions League back in 2018-19 which featured wins over Real Madrid and Juventus along the way, his profile is still considered to be below the expected level.
One player that has responded positively regarding the appointment has been Brazilian midfielder Fred, however, naming ten Hag as a world-class coach.
“It’s great news. He’s a world-class coach who will help us a lot here. I’ve watched Ajax and they are a great team who play good football. We know he helps us a lot and hopefully next year we can win trophies.”
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – APRIL 17: Erik ten Hag prior to the TOTO KNVB Cup Final match between PSV and Ajax at Stadion Feijenoord on April 17, 2022 in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Photo by Geert van Erven/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
“Of course, you always have to prove yourself day to day and game by game. A new manager will look at the team and you have to show the quality of your work to continue playing and working hard under the new coach.”
“The priority is to improve, develop day by day, continue fighting and challenge for trophies. We need to be back to the huge club that Manchester United is. We need to get back to being the huge club that we are. We know the new manager will help us get back on the rails and the objective will be to be back winning again.”
“The new manager’s job will not just take one day to the next. It will take time. We will have pre-season and it won’t be easy. A new style that we can adapt to. We still need to meet our objectives on this season of course, too.”
With speculation already beginning to swirl regarding how Erik ten Hag will revamp and improve the United squad come the summer, which could include selling captain Harry Maguire, the level of player the Dutchman brings into the first-team squad during the transfer window may well set the tone of his entire managerial stint if he does not convince some inside his own camp that he has guided the rebuild off to the right start.
This article was edited by
Conor Laird.
