Antonio Conte has piled the pressure on Erik ten Hag just hours after the Dutchman was confirmed as Manchester United’s new manager.
Ten Hag’s appointment was officially announced by United on Thursday morning, with the current Ajax boss taking over from interim manager Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season. The 52-year-old becomes the club’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Ten Hag managed to beat Mauricio Pochettino to the United hot seat. Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui were also mentioned as potential candidates, but Ten Hag and Pochettino remained frontrunners throughout the process.
ALSO READ: Why Manchester United chose Erik ten Hag as their next manager
Ten Hag now faces a huge summer as he prepares to get to grips with his new squad after what has been a dismal season at Old Trafford. With five games still remaining in the current campaign, it’s looking increasingly likely he will take over a United side not in the Champions League.
Tottenham could well be the side to claim that coveted top-four spot ahead of them, with Spurs reaping the rewards of appointing Conte, who had been linked with United, earlier this season. The Italian has now turned up the heat on Ten Hag ahead of his arrival in the Premier League.
"For sure, we are talking about a big club, an important club," Conte said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. "Don't forget that last season United were in second place and improved the squad with [Raphael] Varane, [Jadon] Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo. It's strange but they've improved the squad and have done worse than last season. It shows it's not easy, particularly in England.
"In England it's a big job for every manager, the level is so high. When you're at Manchester United the pressure is massive. You have to fight to win trophies. It's not easy because other teams have the same idea."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
