Krishnan Sreekumar
Fabrizio Romano quotes Erik ten Hag as Dutchman sends warning to Manchester United stars
Speaking to Dutch media outlet Trouw, as relayed by football journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has sent a strong message to his new players, warning them that they will have to respond to his instructions.
The Dutchman was recently announced as the man to succeed Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford, once the former RB Leipzig manager’s tenure as interim head coach expires in the summer. Rangnick was only appointed on an interim basis after the club sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer late last year.
ten Hag is currently in charge of Ajax Amsterdam, where he will remain until the end of the season as they try to win a hat-trick of Eredivisie titles – all of which will have been won under their incumbent manager’s reign.
The 52-year-old has previously also led the Amsterdam side to a couple of domestic cup competitions but was unable to add one more trophy to his collection this term as they were beaten 2-1 by PSV Eindhoven in the KNVB Cup final recently.
“No matter who it is”
ten Hag will be taking charge of one of the biggest clubs in the world from next season, as he prepares to take charge of a squad that boasts big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, David de Gea, and Bruno Fernandes.
When quizzed about working with Ronaldo and the other stars in Manchester, the Dutchman sent a warning to his new players and insisted that he will not change his vision and that these ‘big players’ will be told their tasks and if they do not meet them, then they would hear from him, no matter who that is.
“I will tell them [big players] their task and whoever does not meet those tasks will hear that from me, no matter who it is.”
It certainly is a strong sentiment echoed by the incoming new manager, who is looking to make an impression and leave his mark on a Man United team that has been underperforming this entire season, sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table.
It is incredible to think that the same side that finished as runners-up in the league last season, after strengthening the squad with Ronaldo, Varane, and Jadon Sancho last summer, are currently unable to book a Champions League qualification spot.
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ten Hag will be aiming for a rebuild of the side ahead of the new campaign and seems to have made it clear to the new players that he will only be picking stars that can adapt to his system and can help implement his vision in the coming months.
After a season of disappointment, United fans have a genuine reason to look forward to next term after hearing such comments from their new manager. The Dutchman sounds like a man with a plan, and will not let any obstacles in his way block his path to achieving success.
