Willem Janssen has revealed Erik ten Hag's training methods are "annoying" but described the new Manchester United manager as "simply the best" coach.
The Dutch centre-back, 35, played under Ten Hag during his time in charge of Utrecht between 2015 and 2017. The 52-year-old was confirmed as United's next permanent manager on a three-year deal earlier this week, with his contract starting in the summer.
And Janssen, who's played more than 200 Eredivisie games for Utrecht since joining the club on a permanent deal in the summer of 2014, believes the Red Devils have made a wise choice in appointing Ten Hag as Ralf Rangnick's long-term successor.
"His first sessions at Utrecht took some getting used to," Janssen wrote in The Guardian. "He immediately demanded an extra training pitch, which the youth department was not thrilled with... he constantly stopped the game, which was annoying at the beginning.
"You were enjoying the game and then the whistle was blown again and Erik would say you were positioned wrong. But he also explained why you had to stand elsewhere. And then you thought: 'Damn, he’s right'... Ten Hag's simply the best."
Ten Hag impressed at Utrecht, guiding the Dutch club to fifth and fourth in the Eredivisie during his two full seasons in charge. The latter was their best result in 26 years. Utrecht could only finish in 11th the season before Ten Hag arrived.
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The Dutchman's impressive spell at Utrecht earned him the Ajax job in December 2017 and he's gone on to win five trophies - all while playing attractive football. He's on course to make that six, as Ajax sit four points clear at the top of the table with five games to go.
Despite singing Ten Hag's praises, Janssen has warned it could take time for him to leave his mark at Old Trafford. United are enduring a disappointing season, sitting sixth in the Premier League - four points behind Tottenham in fourth having played a game more.
Ten Hag's new team is in desperate need of a rebuild - with the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani all in the final two months of their respective deals - and they've not won a major trophy since their Europa League triumph in May 2017.
Ten Hag also needs to assemble a backroom staff, with none of his Ajax coaches expected to follow him to Manchester. Former England manager Steve McClaren, who worked with the Dutchman at Twente, is expected to be announced as his assistant.
"Erik is not a wizard; it takes time to implement the way he wants to play," added Janssen. "But he doesn't panic when initial results are bad, which was the case at Utrecht and Ajax. He sticks to what he wants, convinced that will bring success.
"When when you start winning, it strengthens the group dynamic, the belief in his plans... I tell you: give this man the time and space, see through any lesser first impressions, and he’ll make something of Manchester United."
