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Retired goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar claimed that Erik ten Hag was destined to fail at Manchester United as coach due to the club's management issues. The Dutchman led the Red Devils between 2022 and 2024.
Erik ten Hag's time at Manchester United failed to live up to the mark. The Dutchman still led them to the 2023 Carabao Cup, the 2024 FA Cup, and secured a third-place finish in the Premier League in his first season. However, following consistent poor performances, Ten Hag was sacked in October last year after a 2-1 league defeat to West Ham. At that time, the Red Devils were 14th in the Premier League. Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim replaced the Dutchman.
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In an interview with ViaPlay (h/t Sport Witness), Edwin van der Saar defended his former Ajax colleague, Erik ten Hag. The former shot-stopper blamed leadership problems at Old Trafford for Ten Hag's failure at the club.
"Everything stands or falls with a policy that is simply supported by everyone. I think that has not always been the case in all those years (since Sir Alex). It was the same in the early period at Ajax (for Ten Hag). Erik also had a difficult period then. He overcame that with the people around him. I actually expected that at United, too," Van der Saar said.
He highlighted the ownership changes for Manchester United and added:
"Only because, I think, there was another power vacuum…The club was put up for sale or partially sold, which gave James Ratcliffe 50% of the shares and the sporting part. In addition, a new CEO and a new technical director came, who often want to appoint a manager in their own line. So yes. It was actually almost written in the stars that it would happen like this."
Since his departure, Erik ten Hag has yet to join another club. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final this season.
When Erik ten Hag said this generation finds it "difficult to deal with criticism" following Manchester United stint
In an interview with SEG Stories, former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag claimed the current generation of players find it difficult to take criticism. He said (via BBC):
"This generation usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them. The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct. I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players, I would demotivate them. If you do that to the current generation, they find it offensive."
The Dutchman also alluded to legendary Red Devils coach Sir Alex Ferguson's time and said:
"(Sir Alex) Ferguson also belonged to the previous generation. With that generation, you could be much more direct in your communication and approach. A player of this generation will feel ridiculed if you approach them like that."
Erik ten Hag reportedly faced multiple issues with players during his time at Manchester United. After his fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese legend's contract was mutually terminated at the end of 2022. He also faced reported issues with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford during his stint.
