Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admits that he cannot replicate the style of football he implemented at Ajax with his current team.
After a promising first season under Ten Hag, United’s difficult start to this campaign continued with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, highlighting their rivals’ dominance.
Having lost five of their first ten league matches, United are experiencing their worst start since the 1986-87 season. Former captain Gary Neville described their second-half performance as a “shambles,” and pundit Jamie Carragher criticized the lack of a recognizable playing style.
When Ten Hag arrived at United, he promised to introduce a “proactive, brave, adventurous” style of play that is characteristic of the club’s culture. However, he now acknowledges the need for a more pragmatic approach and a direct style of play.
“The football that we played at Ajax, we will never play here,” Ten Hag stated in an interview with Viaplay after the defeat to City. “I have different players now, and it’s not the reason I came here. The collection of players available determines the style of play, and that is why we play in a different manner compared to Ajax.”
“I have to adapt because I cannot play in the same way here, and it’s also not in the DNA of Manchester United,” he added. “We will be playing a lot more direct, especially in the forefront.”
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Ten Hag must find balance amid ‘chaotic’ approach
Analysis from The Athletic’s Carl Anka
Ten Hag’s recent comments echo his earlier statements when he was unveiled as United’s manager. “It’s not about the way you want to play, but the players — they decide and they dictate the philosophy of how you play,” he said in May 2022.
Since then, Ten Hag has been focused on building a team that maximizes the potential of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, two players who excel in spaces and on the forefront.
Marcus Rashford has scored one goal in 10 Premier League appearances (Getty Images)
Ten Hag has made acquisitions like Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Andre Onana to enhance United’s ability to play on the transition.
However, injuries, low confidence, and frequent changes in the starting lineup have posed challenges for the team this season.
During the pre-season tour, Ten Hag expressed his desire to transform the club into the “best transition team in the world,” adopting a different style of play compared to his successful Ajax teams.
In the Netherlands, Ten Hag was known for coaching teams that were comfortable in possession and pressed effectively without the ball.
At United, he seems to prefer a more chaotic approach that may deliver short-term results but could disrupt the team in the long run.
The dilemma for United fans is whether Ten Hag aims to improve the team’s possession-based style or if he intends to focus on a direct approach that bypasses the midfield.
While Ten Hag presents it as an either/or situation, his past experiences suggest that there is a middle ground to be found.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
