As the managerial merry-go-round continues to turn, Manchester United have been able to secure the future of current Ajax boss Erik ten Hag. The two-time Dutch champion has been impressing European football fans consistently over the last few years. Ten Hag has made his playing style well known and has a successful track record of developing outstanding youth talent, both things Manchester United require.
However, according to former Manchester United first team coach Rene Muelensteen, Erik ten Hag needs to follow in the footsteps of Thomas Tuchel if he is to make Red Devils serious Premier League title contenders once again.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Muelensteen said: “Over at Ajax with the style that he [Ten Hag] plays, it’s expansive, it’s open, it’s attacking. If he goes to any team from place 10 downwards, he can turn up with Ajax and basically win 60 to 70 per cent of those games. You would never be able to do that in the Premier League.
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“He has to hit the ground running. You can compare that with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea. He has never worked over here in the Premier League, but he came over here and did his homework. You could see that straight away and his impact was immediate with Chelsea. Erik needs to do that.”
Tuchel’s impact has been seismic at Stamford Bridge. The former PSG manager has taken the Blues to six finals in fifteen months, winning three major trophies in the process, including the Champions League.
Domestically, the German still has a way to go to match the level of consistent quality on display at Liverpool and Manchester City. Yet, with Chelsea’s future still uncertain, Tuchel has been the figure Blues fans have rallied behind.
Despite Ten Hag’s track record of success at Ajax, the Premier League adaptation period can take some time. If the Dutchman is looking to hit the ground running, something Manchester United fans will be expecting, then following Tuchel’s example is far from a poor idea.
As for Tuchel himself, he will be keeping a close eye on the opening weeks of ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United will first be aiming to displace Chelsea if they are to reach a point of challenging Liverpool and Man City.
Only time will tell if ten Hag is the right fit for Manchester United. If he is able to replicate the form Tuchel has been able to get from his Chelsea players, then the Premier League top four race is set to be more competitive than ever.