Erik ten Hag has revealed that he will not change his footballing philosophy at Manchester United amid a poor run of form.
Craven Cottage offers United a chance to put the past behind them, and Ten Hag reveals that he will not change his style of play due to the recent poor form.
He also stated that his words after Manchester City’s defeat were slightly misconstrued when comparing his time at his old Ajax team with his era at United.
Erik Ten Hag enjoyed five years at Ajax, leading them to three Eredivisie titles and almost reaching the 2018/19 Champions League final.
However, since Erik ten Hag took up the job at Manchester United in the summer of 2022, the club has played more directly with little impact especially this season.
Also, Ten Hag caused a stir this week when he suggested his United players would not be able to perform the way his Ajax players did.
Speaking on his playing style in an interview at Carrignton, Ten Hag said: “I thought the explanation from my point of view was totally wrong.”
“I can’t liken [us] with Ajax because we have different players. I came here with my philosophy based on possession, but also [want] to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the players and the competences and with the characters of the players.”
Erik ten Hag continued; “You combine and I think last year we have seen what that was. We played very good football last season.”
Erik ten Hag went on to add: “This season, the philosophy is not different and I would emphasize more on going direct. But with the explanation of going direct, they [the media] thought I wanted to go for long balls. No, I don’t.”
“I didn’t buy Andre Onana to go for long balls. I know we want to play from the back as we did, and we tried every game.”
Ten Hag, who has previously discussed the importance of “rhythm” and how it may impact a team’s confidence, said that the other arrivals show the exact kind of play he is trying to establish at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag further explained: “We also did [try to play the same way] against City, but if an opponent is going in a high press there is an option to go direct.”
Erik ten Hag added: “What I meant with directness – and I thought it was, in the USA, obvious – is how we want to play. We want to press.”
“We want to press from different blocks and then go direct, because we have players like Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Bruno and Scott McTominay who are very good at it, with passing from Christian Eriksen. With our full-backs joining in.”
“That was my idea and I explained it very clear.”
The Dutchman led Manchester United to their worst campaign start in 61 years after they were defeated 3-0 by Newcastle in the EFL Cup.
Following the defeat in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 1st November, 2023, pressure is mounting on Erik Ten Hag and he might likely be axed soon.
United under Erik ten Hag are also not doing so well in the Champions League losing to Galatasaray and Bayern Munich and just managing a 1-0 win against Copenhagen.
Erik Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who was born on 2 February 1970 and is the manager of Premier League club Manchester United.
After joining Ajax in 2017, he helped the team reach the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League semifinals and win two KNVB Cups in addition to three Eredivisie titles. He was appointed as Manchester United’s manager in 2022.
Managerial Style
Ten Hag has made it clear that he plans to beat the opposition’s press by using the height and speed of his attacking players as well as goalie Andre Onana’s distribution. He does not intend to play long-ball football.
Ten Hag wants his frontline players to harass opposing defenders and prevent them from constructing from the back by using a 4-2-3-1 formation.
What occurs when opposing teams foul that press is the issue.
Erik ten Hag’s Managerial Stats
| Team | PL | W | D | L | Win % |
| Go Ahead Eagles | 39 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 46.2 |
| Bayern Munich II | 72 | 48 | 10 | 14 | 66.7 |
| Utrecht | 111 | 56 | 26 | 29 | 50.5 |
| Ajax | 215 | 158 | 28 | 29 | 73.5 |
| Manchester United | 77 | 48 | 9 | 20 | 62.3 |
| Total | 513 | 327 | 84 | 102 | 63.7 |
