Erik ten Hag gives verdict on Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek
Erik ten Hag has given his thoughts on Donny van de Beek. The Dutch national has had two tough seasons in England. Under his former manager, Van de Beek will again have to prove himself.
Signing for the Red Devils in 2020 after brilliant displays with Ajax in Amsterdam, the 25-year-old has found it difficult to make a place for himself in Manchester.
Ten Hag, speaking via Manchester Evening News, gave his opinions on what the Dutch national needs to do in order to get into the team. Having been managed by the gaffer at Ajax, the 25-year-old starts fresh under the new regime at United.
While some would think that Van de Beek, being a regular under Ten Hag in Holland, has an additional advantage at Old Trafford, the manager himself claims that he will be treated like any other player at the club.
“It’s the same for every player, he has to do it by himself. Me as a manager and the coaching staff around him can do everything to set the right conditions so he can perform but in the end the player has to do it by himself.”
Ten Hag is another opportunity now for Van de Beek to salvage his career in Manchester. The responsibility is on the Dutch national to make sure he performs at an acceptable level from here on out.
A fresh start
Van de Beek was managed by Ten Hag for three seasons when he was at Ajax. Building a young and vibrant side sprinkled with a bit of experience, the side from Amsterdam had a brilliant run in Europe in the 2018/19 season.
The gaffer has seen what the 25-year-old is all about. The Dutch national was one of the most important players for the Eredivisie side that saw success under Ten Hag. But he has to prove himself again now.
“They have to take responsibility for their performance. Donny has the capability. I have seen it but he has to prove himself.”
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, Van de Beek rarely got time on the pitch to showcase his ability. The 25-year-old had a decent first season, but the second one was a complete disaster in the Premier League.
Having not started a single game for United in the league, the midfielder moved to Everton on loan. But his time under Frank Lampard wasn’t much fruitful either, with an injury halting his run of games.
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Now with an all-new perspective in the dugout, it’ll be interesting to see how Van de Beek fares under someone who knows him very well. Fans will hope the Dutch national is freed from his shackles and allowed minutes on the pitch.
