Ajax have always been a classy club but more so under the management of Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman has been tentatively linked with a move away from the club and in my opinion, Manchester United should be moving heaven and earth for him should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leave in the future.
Let's start with this. No - it doesn't look like Solskjaer is losing his job anytime soon, despite United's 5-0 defeat to Liverpool in October.
Although United haven't completely turned a corner, it feels there's less pressure on Solskjaer, but that could all change if his team get battered in the Manchester derby on Saturday.
At the same time, United supporters have to remember that this season was all about getting closer to the top of the table and challenging the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. So far, it hasn't gone according to plan.
United are eight points off the top and look miles of being title contenders, which was always the aim going into Solskjaer's third season.
So, as much as I want Solskjaer to succeed and support him whilst he's in a job, I'm only expressing my current opinion in suggesting that Erik ten Hag is the man United should go for if they sack the Norwegian.
Now, Ten Hag is probably only available at the end of the season, but if United had any plan after Solskjaer, they'd be speaking to him now. Why? Well, just look at what his team have achieved under his tenure.
Since 2017, his side have won two Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups and got to the Champions League semi-final on a net spend which is around the same as Norwich City. That's simply unbelievable.
He's been so successful for many reasons, whether it be adopting the 'Ajax' philosophy, bringing his own tactical ideas into the job (likes a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, depending on the opposition), his faith in youth or the calm and collective approach he has, which his players pick up.
If Ten Hag came to United, he would use 'The United Way', but bring in his own ideas.
In an interview with Ajax TV in 2020, when he was asked if he was an 'extremely attack-minded coach,' he gave a very clever response;
He said: "No, because there's moments and situations where I coach differently and let my team play differently.
"It has to fit the DNA of Ajax. It might be different at another club, but even Ajax have to master different strategies in order to be successful."
Clearly, he wouldn't be afraid of using United's history to form a unique style of play.
Ten Hag also has a trait that United have been lacking since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. He can rebuild. The team he has now is nothing like the team he had in 2019, but as we've seen, they've got the potential to go just as far as them.
This season, Ajax have conceded just six goals out of the 15 matches they've played in all competitions. They're also unbeaten and have scored 51 goals. That's an average of 3.4 goals per 90 - insane numbers!
They've just become the first Dutch team to win their first four games in the Champions League group stage and qualified on Tuesday for the knockout stages after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in their own backyard. They were 1-0 down at half-time, but Ten Hag made an inspiring substitution when he brought on Davy Klaassen for Edson Alvarez. It changed the game and he inevitably scored. Another tick for Ajax's manager!
I don't want to hear people saying 'the Premier League is a different specimen to the Eredivisie' as a reason for not going for Ten Hag. Why? Because he's on a different planet compared to some of the most recent managers that have made the switch from the Netherlands to England.
His European record proves that. Since he's been in charge of the club, Ajax have only lost just one away game in the Champions League, which was to Liverpool.
Ten Hag has all the attributes to be a Manchester United manager and if they want to get anywhere near to what City and Liverpool have replicated, they'd make a move for him.
He's the perfect replacement if Solskjaer leaves. Get in contact with him before he's picked up by another top European club!
What do you think of Ten Hag? Follow our United On My Mind writer Omar Garrick on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.
