Erik ten Hag is many fans' favourite to become the next permanent manager of Manchester United and the Manchester Evening News understands that he has been interviewed about the role. Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but it's understood his current club Ajax expect to lose the services of their boss this summer.
The Dutchman is winning plaudits across Europe after seeing his Ajax team go unbeaten in the Champions League group stages before unfortunately being knocked out by Benfica in the knockout rounds. They also sit top of the Eredivisie with a goal difference of plus 69 having lost just three games.
At 52, Ten Hag is in his prime and has all the attributes needed to become a United manager. He has blooded in youth as part of Ajax's philosophy and rebuilt the team from scratch after they were picked apart after their run in the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.
ALSO READ: Ajax expecting Erik ten Hag to join Manchester United
Ahead of any potential move, our writers Casey Evans, Omar Garrick and Mike Parrott looked at what Ten Hag will bring to the role as United manager. Starting with:
Omar Garrick says... Style of Play
One area in which United have been lacking recently is their style of play. Now, I’m not saying this was always the case under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, but it feels as if the club hasn’t had a set way of playing since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. I know that United used to play counter-attacking football under Solskjaer, but there’s been a demand from supporters to dominate matches against lower opposition. This is where they’ve struggled; they can’t control games.
With Ten Hag, you’re going to have a distinct style, but I have a feeling that it may differ slightly compared to what we see at Ajax. Why? Because he’s already confirmed that his philosophy has to be built around the DNA of a club. United are different to the Amsterdam team.
He also changes his tactics depending on the opposition. Traditionally, Ten Hag likes to play a 4-3-3/ 4-2-3-1 and this rotates to a 3-4-3 in-game. Of course, this would be refreshing to see at Old Trafford because it would be different.
There’s no doubt that the Dutchman would play attacking football as he prioritises that over the defensive aspects of the game.
United’s wingers, like Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, could take their game to a whole new level. As we’ve seen this season, Dusan Tadic and Antony have been sensational on the left and right-hand side of the attack, which helped striker Sebastian Haller score 10 Champions League goals in the opening six group stage matches.
Imagine what Ten Hag could do if he gets Rashford and Sancho supplying assists for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mike Parrott says... The Ajax invasion
If Manchester United do appoint Ten Hag, then it could be a short-term struggle for the Dutchman. The ungodly expectations of managing Cristiano Ronaldo, and having to go toe to toe with the likes of Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Thomas Tuchel on a weekly basis. Ten Hag would need help.
Of course, Ten Hag would most likely bring his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag with him to Old Trafford. You would also not be surprised to see Ten Hag bring some Ajax players with him to United. It’s a very common act to see a new manager bring their general from their former side with them to set his mark on the team while having a voice in the changing room from a player’s perspective too.
The likes of Edson Alvarez and Noussair Mazraoui could be two Ajax names that could be bought for cheap as well as filling holes in the United squad. Alvarez, who originally was a centre-back, has transitioned into a defensive midfielder under Ten Hag, similar to how Declan Rice has developed.
Mazraoui is a 24-year-old right-back who is out of contract in the summer. With him standing six feet tall and also being able to move into midfield when needed, a versatile player like Mazraoui would be a very shrewd but smart signing to give Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot competition as well as rotation.
Casey Evans says... He’d be the best bald manager in the Premier League
Guardiola currently holds this title as you can probably guess, but with the squad available to Ten Hag and his style of play, you would certainly think he could make a name for himself and go toe to toe with the Premier League’s elite managers. Many fans have already been impressed by his exploits with Ajax.
He did the double over German side Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League this season and it’s not just the result that the fans were impressed by, but the way Ajax played in both games. United fans would be hoping he could replicate that if he came to Old Trafford.
If he could implement those tactics and philosophy (dangerous word to use when discussing Dutch managers and United) onto the current crop of talent at Old Trafford, I’m certain that he could get United back into the ascendancy. Ten Hag was an assistant for Bayern’s development squad while Guardiola was managing the first team, and Guardiola was full of praise for the Ajax manager when asked about him in 2019.
He said in a pre-match press conference; "I was lucky to meet him at Bayern and he was an assistant from the second team. We had a lot of chats. I'm delighted where he is, a historical club. It would have been a pleasure to play him. I wish him a good two games and I will be watching on TV."
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