Krishnan Sreekumar
New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag demands full players reports on whereabouts of first-team stars in the summer
According to the Mirror, new Manchester United permanent manager Erik ten Hag has asked for a full report on the squad he is inheriting and wants to know the whereabouts of his players during the summer as he prepares to begin his tenure as head coach.
ten Hag joins United from Ajax Amsterdam, where he led the Dutch club to their third consecutive Eredivisie title earlier this season. It was the 52-year-old third league triumph in five years, with the boss also managing to take them to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
Prior to meeting the Red Devils players for the first time during pre-season, the Dutchman has demanded to know where the first-team stars are heading for their summer holidays in order to keep tabs on them. The Premier League season ended over the weekend for the Manchester side, with their final game ending in a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
The new coach was in attendance for the Palace game, watching his side for the first time in person. He has since asked to be updated about the squad’s whereabouts, with some players believing that this is a test to find out which of them are committed to staying in shape ahead of their pre-season tour beginning on June 27.
Similar style implemented by Sir Alex Ferguson
Before taking charge, it was said that ten Hag had spoken to a few players via Zoom chats and WhatsApp messages. Now, however, he has asked for a detailed assessment of every squad member in order to understand them better and learn about their backgrounds – including their families and home life.
This approach of his has seen former players refer to him as ‘the Headmaster‘, with the Dutchman known for having a strict and detailed approach to management. This is quite similar to the management style implemented by Sir Alex Ferguson, who kept a track of his players, both on and off the pitch.
ten Hag looks to mean serious business when he takes over in the summer, keen to make a quick impact at his new club. The Red Devils are in need of a massive changeover, given how poor their current campaign has been. The English side finished sixth, missing out on Champions League football next term.
They also failed to add any silverware to their trophy cabinet, with their last title coming in 2017 when they won the Europa League against Ajax in the final. The Dutchman is also expected to help break this title drought, while rivals like Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool keep winning other trophies.
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The failure to impress in the 2021/22 campaign was arguably down to the underwhelming performances delivered by the players, with only Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea seeming to perform to the best of their ability. ten Hag will need to find a way to get the best out of his other players, and perhaps some discipline is the best tool for this.
The controlling approach certainly worked for Sir Alex, who was hugely successful in a long career at Old Trafford. Only time will tell if the new manager can repeat the trick, or see it come crashing down. Pre-season will be an interesting time for the players, who will need to adapt to the ways of ten Hag.
