Erik ten Hag revealed that he received warnings against assuming the role of Manchester United manager due to its perceived impossibility. Despite skepticism from others, Ten Hag, who took charge in the summer of 2022, expressed his desire for the challenge, recognizing the historic club’s greatness and dedicated fanbase.
In his inaugural season, Ten Hag achieved success by steering the team back to the Champions League and securing victory in the Carabao Cup. However, the current season presents challenges, with Manchester United currently occupying the sixth position in the Premier League and sitting at the bottom of their Champions League group.
Among those cautioning Ten Hag against the role was former Manchester United and Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal acknowledged Ten Hag’s coaching prowess but highlighted the complexities of coaching a commercially-driven club like Manchester United.
“I think Ten Hag is a great coach; I said that multiple times,” Van Gaal said in March 2022, when Ten Hag was a reported candidate for the United job.
“A great coach is good for Manchester United. But Manchester United is a commercial club. Those are difficult choices for a coach. As a coach, you should prefer a football club.”
Despite recent setbacks, Ten Hag remains steadfast, dismissing claims of a crisis after Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea. He emphasized the team’s ongoing journey, maintained a calm approach, and reiterated his belief in the process. Ten Hag affirmed that the team remains focused on building and is impervious to external criticism, emphasizing the importance of unity, the right attitude, and consistent performances to accumulate points.