Manchester United’s incoming coach, Erik Ten Hag will start focusing on the club’s problems on Monday, May 16, 2022, after Ajax’s victory party.
The 52-year-old Dutch tactician said this after Ajax’s last game of the season which was against Vitesse on Sunday, May 15, 2022. The Eredivisie game ended in a 2-2 draw which was inconsequential because Ajax had already won the league.
Recall that Ajax was confirmed winners of the Eredivisie title for the 2021-2022 season after beating Heerenveen 5-0 on May 11, 2022. At the end of the Dutch season, Ajax finished their campaign with 83 points in 34 games, two points above second-placed PSV.
A day after Ajax were confirmed winners of the Dutch league, Manchester United director of football, John Murtough, flew to Amsterdam to have a meeting with Erik Ten Hag.
Reports claimed that former England national team coach, Steve McClaren and Ten Hag’s current assistant coach at Ajax, Mitchell van der Gaag attended the meeting.
The meeting was tagged preparation meeting ahead of the 2022-2023 season in which Ten Hag is expected to return Manchester United to more relevance.
Recall that Manchester United had a very challenging 2021-2022 season in which they could not finish in the top four. They are currently battling to finish on the 6th spot which will guarantee them Europa League football next season.
To finish on the 6th spot, Manchester United need to beat Crystal Palace away from home at 16:00 on Monday, May 22, the last matchday of the 2021-2022 season. If Manchester United fail to win the game, the Premier League giants could drop to the 7th spot which will qualify them for the Europa Conference League.
Erik Ten Hag admits there are a lot of issues to tackle at Manchester United
In order not to suffer what interim coach Ralf Rangnick suffered in the 2021-2022 season, Erik Ten Hag is planning to commence work at Old Trafford as soon as possible.
After Ajax’s 2-2 draw with Vitesse, the Dutch tactician made it clear that “there is a lot of work to be done” at Manchester United and would not partake in Ajax’s post-season trip to Curacao. Instead, he will direct his attention to his new job at Old Trafford.
When asked on Sunday, May 15, if he would participate in Ajax’s victory party on Monday, May 16, the Dutch coach said: “Yes, there will be a party tomorrow [Monday] with the entire staff, but that will be it then.”
On whether he would play a part in Ajax’s post-season trip to Curacao, Ten Hag said: “No, I will not be joining them [to Curacao]. That is correct, I think that’s understandable.
“There’s a lot of work to be done there [at United]. Of course. There’s a lot of work at every club. A manager’s job is especially focused on the preparations for the next season. And there’s a lot of work to be done in that regard.
“Regarding the staff, there are several things that need to be organized. And also regarding the team and over the next several days, or actually as of tomorrow [Monday], we will be focusing on that intensively.”
Note that Erik Ten Hag’s assistant coaches at Manchester United ahead of the 2021-2022 season could include Steve McClaren, a former assistant coach to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Also, Ten Hag’s current assistant coach at Ajax, Mitchell van der Gaag, is expected to follow him to Old Trafford ahead of the 2022-2023 season.
Erik Ten Hag is the 5th permanent coach Manchester United appointed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. The Dutchman is expected to reign at Old Trafford for three years. Afterward, his contract with the Premier League club might be extended by a year.
Erik Ten Hag going to hug all his players for 1 final time at the Johan Cruyff Arena.🥺 pic.twitter.com/PzATOuj0yK
— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBalI) May 11, 2022
