Erik ten Hag says ‘standards were not right’ when he arrived at Manchester United and details what he demands from players
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, recently shared some insights into the changes he had to make when he first arrived at the club. Under his leadership, the Red Devils have shown signs of improvement over the past year.
Ten Hag acknowledged that there were significant issues at United before his arrival. The team had a disastrous season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, followed by a doomed interim spell with Ralf Rangnick, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the Premier League. They conceded 57 goals, the highest since 1979, and ended the season with a negative goal difference for the first time since 1990.
However, Ten Hag’s tenure has seen United secure a top-four finish and win the Carabao Cup. To achieve these results, the Dutch coach had to implement a series of changes since taking charge.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in areas such as sleep, recovery, and nutrition. According to Ten Hag, these factors make a significant difference in a player’s ability to perform consistently. He believes that demanding the highest standards is crucial for every top player, and that is the expectation at Manchester United.
Since Ten Hag’s arrival last summer, United has not hesitated to invest in new players. They have made significant signings, including Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia, with a total spending of close to £200 million. This year alone, their spending has already reached £100 million. The impending transfer of Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta is expected to follow the arrivals of Mason Mount and Andre Onana.
Despite the positive progress, Ten Hag is determined to maintain momentum and strengthen his team’s mental resilience. He acknowledged that there were games where they bounced back, but consistency is key. He believes that learning from both victories and defeats is essential, as there will inevitably be bad results in the future. The challenge lies in minimizing the impact of those results and finding a way to recover.
In addition to the on-field improvements, Manchester United has also introduced a new match center on talkSPORT. This platform provides up-to-date information on fixtures, results, and live Premier League standings for the club.
In conclusion, Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Manchester United has brought about significant changes and improvements. The team has shown progress under his leadership, and he continues to strive for higher standards and mental strength. With ongoing investments in new players and a focus on consistency, Ten Hag aims to guide United to further success in the upcoming season.
In a recent interview with Football journalist, Erik ten Hag has lifted the lid on the standards of Manchester United when he arrived for the role of assistant manager.
ten Hag also detailed what he demands from the players as a manager.
The Dutchman was appointed in May 2019 to assist Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who took over at Old Trafford in December 2018.
In an honest statement, ten Hag recalled what he found at United when he arrived and insists the “standards were not right”.
“That was a real eye-opener. It doesn’t matter at which level you are or who the players are, the basic standards, what you have to keep yourself to, you have to keep that up. That wasn’t good when I came in.”
The tactician has no intention of changing the United way and claims he can work within the framework. Instead, ten Hag believes the solutions to the club’s problems lie within the same infrastructure.
Although he remains an assistant, ten Hag has already made his presence felt with Solskjaer, providing a calming influence from the sidelines and suggesting solutions during games.
The United backroom staff has been praised for the strides the club has taken to close the gap between themselves and rivals Manchester City.
So what does ten Hag demand from his players?
“We demand a lot from our players. We demand mental strength, courage, understanding of the game, technique, intelligence – all the footballing characteristics. And on top of that, we demand physical strength. Officially there are three things we want: discipline, winning mentality, and commitment to the team.”
Let us see if his expertise, knowledge and experience can help the Devils achieve more success this season.