Krishnan Sreekumar
Incoming new manager Erik ten Hag informs Manchester United hierarchy that he will need an almost entirely new XI
According to the Independent, incoming new manager Erik ten Hag has informed the Manchester United hierarchy that he will require an almost entirely new starting XI if things are to improve at the club from next season.
The Dutchman is expected to take over the reins at Old Trafford from Ralf Rangnick in the summer, when his tenure as the interim manager expires at the end of the campaign. Rangnick was only appointed late last year to succeed ten Hag’s predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
ten Hag is currently in charge of Ajax Amsterdam and will move to his new club only once the Eredivisie season ends. He is looking to win a hat-trick of league titles with the Amsterdam side, as his team currently sits on top of the league table during the business end of the campaign.
He will be taking over a club that sits sixth in the Premier League points table, in danger of missing out on a Champions League spot by the summer as they lie six points away from fourth place, with the other teams above them having played a game less.
ten Hag demands new playing XI
Ahead of leading the English side from next term, ten Hag has told the United hierarchy that they would require almost an entire XI if they want to see improvements in both the level of the squad as well as performances on the pitch.
Rangnick seems to have backed his successor’s claim, recently stating that they could sign up to 10 players in the upcoming transfer window in the summer. Evidently, the German too does not think that many of the current stars in the squad are now up to the expected standard.
The Red Devils have had several superstars underperform this season, with Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford two of the biggest names on the list. New signing Jadon Sancho has also underwhelmed while Luke Shaw and Alex Telles remain largely inconsistent with their displays down the left flank.
The situation at Old Trafford has been dire this season, seeing a permanent manager sacked due to poor results and the team unable to fulfil their objective of securing a place in the top four of the league to qualify for the UCL next term.
There have also not been any trophies in five years, with the club last winning silverware in 2017 when they won the UEFA Europa League under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho. Since Mourinho’s departure, the club have seen two more head coaches come in, and ten Hag will become the third in the summer.
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The English side’s last two PL games have shown just how far behind they are in terms of quality, losing 4-0 to Liverpool at Anfield and 3-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Rangnick has looked like a defeated man, unable to inspire a side that seemingly does not respond to his tactics.
There seems to be an indication in the red half of Manchester that it is the players that need replacing and not the manager, and when ten Hag comes in ahead of the new season, the club will need to take on both his and Rangnick’s advice on the players to ensure there is a change at the Theatre of Dreams.
