Erik ten Hag has stored his counsel on Manchester United for 2 years since his sacking in October 2024, however the affection he constructed up for the membership whereas profitable two trophies nonetheless shines by when he speaks.
“I loved each minute in Manchester United; I’ve such great recollections,” says the previous United supervisor. “It looks like I am linked; I am a fan. It is an incredible fanbase; they had been all the time respectful to me.
“I really need United to win. I need them to achieve success once more. I need the membership to be again the place it as soon as was.”
That concentrate on feels a manner off, with the temper round United turbulent as soon as once more. Ten Hag is aware of what it’s prefer to be within the eye of the storm on the world’s most talked-about membership.
“The management, you want their competence, you want the proper technique,” he says. “What’s your identification? What are the work strategies? You want the proper constructions and high quality folks. Then you definately want time.”
That leads Ten Hag to speak concerning the man at the moment within the sizzling seat, Michael Carrick. “It isn’t the answer to dismiss him. 100 per cent not,” he says. “Followers will demand this if outcomes do not enhance – it’s popping out from the abdomen, from the emotion. It’s a must to make rational choices. He confirmed good teaching talents at Middlesbrough and final season. So let him do his course of. I feel he has a superb workers.”
The Athletic spent two evenings with Ten Hag in his hometown of Enschede, within the east of the Netherlands, to peel again the curtain on his two-and-a-half years managing United and to search out out what his life is like now as technical director of FC Twente, his boyhood staff.
Partly one, Ten Hag provides contemporary, fascinating perception into topics together with:
- The damaged “guarantees” that led to his sacking
- Why he needed to act on Cristiano Ronaldo, a participant who “let the staff down”
- His need to signal Harry Kane and Declan Rice, and pursuits of Brian Brobbey and Danny Welbeck
- The “poisonous tradition” and what it was like managing gamers corresponding to Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Raphael Varane
Half two on Wednesday will deal with Ten Hag’s supply to assist United’s knowledge division, bringing by Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, and why Sevilla was the turning level in his reign. It’s also possible to hear from Ten Hag on a particular version of our Discuss of The Devils podcast in a while Tuesday.
Ten Hag had regarded set to lose his job on the eve of the 2024 FA Cup ultimate in opposition to Manchester Metropolis at Wembley, as United’s conversations with potential successors, corresponding to Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, had develop into public. However a 2-1 victory in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s champions prompted a U-turn from the membership’s hierarchy. Ten Hag, in spite of everything, had claimed two trophies in two campaigns, following the League Cup 15 months earlier.
Two weeks later, the clause in his contract for an extra yr was triggered after crunch talks throughout his vacation in Ibiza.
“I would not go on with just one yr left,” says Ten Hag. “So I mentioned, ‘I want an additional yr and we’ve got to do it collectively’. They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke concerning the points. However the guarantees, they did not hold.”
A kind of ‘guarantees’, in accordance with Ten Hag, was maintaining Scott McTominay, who had scored 10 objectives that marketing campaign however ended up leaving United for Napoli later that summer time for €30.5million (then £25.7m; $33.7m) because the membership raised funds to purchase Manuel Ugarte.
“That is why I obtained upset,” Ten Hag provides. “In Ibiza, we agreed. I mentioned, ‘No promoting Scott McTominay’. We might go aligned within the switch window. I make an argument, a purpose: we do not have scoring talents. Scott brings scoring talents and nice mentality. He has United in all his veins. So after they deliver up the topic, ‘No’. And in the long run they bought him. I obtained, after all, very embarrassed and upset.”
Ten Hag did get Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, two former Ajax gamers, however that they had solely two months collectively. United had been 14th within the Premier League on 11 factors from 9 video games when Ten Hag was dismissed on October 28, 2024, the day after his facet misplaced 2-1 to West Ham United.
Defeat at West Ham proved to be Ten Hag’s ultimate sport in control of Man Utd
“I feel it was fairly bizarre to separate methods in that second,” he says, declaring United had been nonetheless in all of the cup competitions. “All the information was exhibiting we’re good. OK, two poor video games to Liverpool and Spurs (each 3-0 dwelling defeats). We had been beginning the method. Let it progress; the gameplay is getting higher.”
Ten Hag feels he nonetheless had the dressing room onside. “Possibly they’ll say otherwise, however I see on the pitch, and each sport they fought. Additionally, my final sport, that was in all probability one in every of our greatest video games, we must always have received in opposition to West Ham. However I am certain the method was already ongoing; there have been already folks – possibly even within the staff – who knew what would occur the day after.”
Three days earlier than his sacking, Ten Hag detected one thing was amiss following United’s 1-1 draw at Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce within the Europa League – a contest he was satisfied his staff may win. United, led by Ruben Amorim, ended up dropping the ultimate that season 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
“I can learn conditions; I see when individuals are not in Istanbul, abruptly one thing is happening,” says Ten Hag. “However nonetheless, after that summer time, the place you get apologies for his or her behaviour, and that we’d go to construct, it is stunning.
“We focused the Europa League. And I feel while you select a supervisor, and he proves the final two seasons, profitable trophies, stepping into finals, then I do not suppose it is good membership administration to alter… I did watch the ultimate, however all the pieces was modified.”
‘Takeover course of introduced noise, uncertainty and disruptions’
Self-discipline is prime to Ten Hag. His bullishness invitations the query of whether or not a supervisor at a membership the size of United wants an ego to keep away from getting eaten up. “I haven’t got that ego, however I’ve the boldness,” Ten Hag replies. “It isn’t about me; it’s concerning the membership. I can settle for that new management is coming in and so they wish to appoint their very own folks, however simply inform me.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s funding in United was introduced on December 24, 2023, bringing in Sir Dave Brailsford as a director. Omar Berrada was named as chief government in January 2024, though he formally started the position within the July. Dan Ashworth had a interval of gardening depart till that very same month, so was not in Ibiza, earlier than assuming his place as sporting director. Christopher Vivell additionally joined in July, initially as interim director of recruitment. Jason Wilcox was within the constructing from April, when he began work as technical director.
“The takeover course of introduced a number of noise, uncertainty with the folks, and disruptions,” says Ten Hag. “In order that was for the supervisor, for the coach, it was tough to work, that is clear. It was very difficult.”
Ten Hag had been interviewed by Ratcliffe and his brother, Bob, throughout Good’s hunt for a brand new head coach in 2021 and says he had a “good feeling” when their petrochemicals agency, INEOS, purchased into United.
“However after the primary assembly (at Carrington), he began speaking concerning the construction within the soccer membership, how the supervisor must be head coach,” provides Ten Hag. “I mentioned, ‘OK, let’s talk about, however my contract is totally different’. I by no means heard something.
“Then each press convention (at United), they ask me if the construction must be modified. I all the time wish to cooperate in a membership – you may’t do that by yourself. That you must discover a technique about philosophy, sport mannequin, about staff profile, particular person profiles. That’s what I used to be used to, however with them there was no communication.”
It was an indication of issues to come back. Because the tales swirled round United interviewing for his alternative within the build-up to going through Manchester Metropolis within the 2024 FA Cup ultimate, Ten Hag was left in the dead of night. “There was a number of hypothesis within the final two months,” he says. “Each week articles got here out about it. I can deal very nicely with it, however clearly we had our issues.”
Ten Hag explains why he declined to go in search of solutions. “I used to be considering I am the most effective supervisor for United, so it does not make sense to dive in,” he says. “I used to be simply specializing in my staff. We had one likelihood to win a trophy, the FA Cup, and that is immense. So that is what we did.
“The celebrations on the pitch (at Wembley), as an example they had been the most effective second in my Manchester life.”
Ten Hag’s Man Utd beat Man Metropolis within the 2024 FA Cup ultimate
Ten Hag did make his emotions recognized on some issues, nonetheless, and felt he was not supported in sanctions on a number of issues of participant self-discipline, together with with Jadon Sancho, Rashford and others.
“And so, they’re persevering with the poisonous tradition; they gas it, they offer the ability to the gamers,” he says. “Rashford is an incredible participant, if his mindset is correct. I all the time confirmed my belief in him, performed him. However while you present these requirements, typically you need to make corrections.” United really feel behaviours within the squad did enhance, with Amorim supported by the hierarchy in shifting gamers on. Rashford, who has been present process common therapy to play by a hip harm within the early weeks of the season, loved productive loans at Aston Villa and Barcelona following Ten Hag’s departure and Carrick spoke in pre-season of the England worldwide being “in nice spirits”.
Ten Hag felt he needed to play dangerous cop to gamers to implement the principles, but on the identical time he needed to decide gamers he thought would win matches. It was an identical scenario with Cristiano Ronaldo, a participant Ten Hag inherited, the Portuguese having returned to Previous Trafford for a second spell on the membership in August 2021.
“He let the staff down, and he let me down, as a result of we deliberate with him,” says Ten Hag. “I flew out to Portugal to talk with him about what I used to be aiming for earlier than I got here to United. Clearly, he is among the finest in soccer historical past. I revered him lots. However at the moment, as a supervisor, I needed to make a rational determination and hold the gamers I like in.”
In keeping with Ten Hag, Ronaldo pulled out of coaching classes, didn’t get his coronary heart fee raised to the required degree when he did practice, and solely accomplished two of the three scheduled laps of the notorious run Ten Hag made his gamers do after they misplaced 4-0 at Brentford in August 2022.
“I confronted him with this,” says Ten Hag. “Many instances I say, ‘Ronnie, everybody desires to work so that you can deliver you in the proper place, however if you cannot deliver your self within the field, you may’t rating’. He was not succesful to do that. It is the unsuitable thought to place this to me that I anticipated him to do the urgent, that he is exhausted. However he could not. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The explanation was as a result of he did not put together himself.
“Each high staff has to embrace the highest participant, however the high participant has to work for the staff.
“He was telling the gamers, ‘Save your legs on the coaching’. I perceive it when you’re high match; you’ve classes, it can save you the legs. However first you need to practice your self to get into the proper health ranges.”
The Athletic put Ten Hag’s feedback to Ronaldo’s consultant however had not acquired a reply on the time of publication.
Ten Hag had a strained relationship at instances with Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s affect rubbed off on sure team-mates, Ten Hag believes. “Gamers need to act, they’ve a giant duty. Soccer is, for some, not the very best precedence. And United for some wasn’t the very best precedence.”
Participant energy is again in vogue at United following Lisandro Martinez’s extraordinary feedback after the 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid final week. Martinez was disciplined internally for his feedback, by a nice, after which made obtainable for choice instantly.
Ten Hag declines to touch upon the specifics of Martinez, however provides: “I can say I feel that is what the Madrid connection introduced in, that gamers are highly effective and so they wish to resolve. For my part it did not swimsuit the part United was in. The management wished attacking, dynamic soccer and these gamers wished to play what fitted themselves.”
By the “Madrid connection”, Ten Hag means Casemiro, Varane, and Ronaldo, who received 14 Champions Leagues between them at Actual Madrid underneath Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti.
Casemiro got here to United because the midfield strategist with “quarterback qualities”, says Ten Hag. “Then after all it regarded like he obtained demotivated. I do not know what they instructed him.” The Athletic has beforehand reported Casemiro felt United would signal gamers to problem for the title in summer time 2023, having completed third in Ten Hag’s first season.
Ten Hag tended to lean into the disciplinarian facet of his character to attempt to deliver order to a dysfunctional dressing room. Fred, the Brazilian midfielder, just lately mentioned Ten Hag was an incredible tactician however a poor man-manager. Ten Hag was despatched a hyperlink to the interview.
“I am not mad at Fred,” he says, smiling. “You combat together with your gamers when they’re exhibiting inefficient and unprepared requirements. However it’s all the time with respect. You wish to push them, you wish to get the most effective out of them.”
‘I fought for Kane’
Ten Hag was employed by former chief government Richard Arnold and soccer director John Murtough primarily based on the soccer of his Ajax staff, who reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, beating Actual Madrid 4-1 within the Bernabeu and Juventus 2-1 in Turin on the best way.
“So our identification must be dynamic, attacking soccer, counter-press, and that’s what Richard and John demanded me to do,” he says. “Play possession within the opponent’s half. In fact they wish to win. Previous Trafford is the Theatre of Desires. They need journey soccer. You then want the profiles.
“For me, you want the ball-playing centre-back and also you want a ball-winning centre-half additionally in a position to play on a excessive line.
“I mentioned for the primary season, ‘Centre-half, there’s an issue, centre-midfield, there’s a drawback, and particularly I want a strategist. Then we want objectives’. And that was the most important problem in all my three years: objectives.”
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong was his first selection for midfield. United had been in negotiations for a number of weeks, however the participant declined to hitch.
“Everybody’s considering the supervisor is doing the negotiations, that I am concerned in monetary points, however I used to be by no means,” says Ten Hag. “In fact, I did my greatest; I arrange conferences with him, the place it was Richard and John concerned as nicely, to pursue him to come back over. He may have been crucial constructing the staff, not solely that yr however for the long run. However we did not make it.”
Ten Hag pressed for England midfielder Declan Rice as an alternative. “The problem was that West Ham did not wish to let him go. I feel we may have performed extra to check. We had been on one web page, they tried, however I do not understand how the method went. The purpose is, at United you want excellent gamers.”
Rice, then 24, ended up shifting to Arsenal in the summertime of 2023 for a package deal price £105m. He was instrumental in Mikel Arteta’s facet profitable the Premier League for the primary time in 22 years final season, usually sporting the captain’s armband, and has made the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.
Throughout that very same window three years in the past, Ten Hag had one identify on his lips at centre-forward. “I mentioned to them, ‘I need just one participant – and who’.” He means Harry Kane, then aged 30. “I fought for it. I heard that he was very constructive, however I by no means spoke with him concerning the problem. I do not understand how the choice course of went with John, Richard, the Glazers.”
Harry Kane has excelled for membership and nation since becoming a member of Bayern Munich
Ten Hag was instructed no. “They got here to the conclusion. I haven’t got the insights within the financials.”
As an alternative, Kane moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in a €110m deal. The England captain has since scored 157 objectives in 155 video games for Bayern, twice lifting the Bundesliga, and can also be nominated for this yr’s Ballon d’Or.
Ten Hag provides: “I feel a membership like United, you want these profiles to achieve success. Persona, and they’re mature, and so they’re accountable. We signed 5, six gamers, younger, excessive potentials. However they aren’t the completed product. They want steerage from good professionals, like Kane, Rice, and Bruno (Fernandes).”
One other who may have offered steerage the next yr was Danny Welbeck, then 33 and at Brighton & Hove Albion. “For certain, we had been involved,” says Ten Hag. “Not me, usually Darren (Fletcher, then United technical director). And he was very .”
The altering personnel of United’s government group meant the membership by no means dedicated to a proper supply for Welbeck at the moment.
Then there was Brian Brobbey, a former Ajax participant Ten Hag wished to assist Ronaldo as a second striker in the summertime of 2022.
“At first, not everybody was aligned,” says Ten Hag. “Then we satisfied him, however then we had been late, and already he was in a distinct course of.”
Sunderland purchased him in 2025 and he has scored 10 Premier League objectives in 36 video games.
Ten Hag’s job now could be to ensure FC Twente’s squad is constructed utilizing the proper recruitment and all gamers are pulling in the identical course. It isn’t the size of United, however Ten Hag nonetheless feels stress to succeed.
“Within the area it is very, very large,” he says of the scrutiny he’s underneath. “And it is a large membership for the Netherlands. Not international, very clear, however there’s all the time stress as nicely. Individuals are fairly important right here. So, issues need to work.”
This text initially appeared in The Athletic.
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