Erik ten Hag will be faced with an enormous task when he arrives at Manchester United this summer.
The current Ajax boss has now agreed a deal to become United’s new boss. He was officially announced as the club's next manager and will begin work in the summer.
There is no doubt Ten Hag arrives at Old Trafford with a massive job on his hands. With interim boss Ralf Rangnick suggesting the club could need as many as 10 new signings, the Dutchman has now been tasked with one of the biggest rebuilds in the club’s history.
Not only will he need to focus on new faces, but he will have to appease those players left over from his predecessors. Reports of unrest have followed United throughout the season, and even before Ten Hag has stepped foot in the club, it’s understood there’s a split in the dressing room over his appointment.
Ten Hag though could get a helping hand on that front. The MEN understands he will bring his Ajax assistant Mitchell van der Gaag along with him to Old Trafford.
And Van der Gaag has already given an insight on how the pair will approach the task at hand at United. During an interview in the Netherlands (via the Mirror ), the 50-year-old gave an insight into his and Ten Hag's approach with players.
“I used to have discussions with the whole team, but as field coach I am moving away from that more and more,” Van der Gaag said. “Players increasingly prefer individual conversations. That takes a lot more time and energy, but I have the feeling that I can reach my players better that way.“
“I sit down with players every week and we look at how he has played together with the footage. As a result, I can demand much more and you also get more sense of responsibility from the player.
“They can hide in a group. It’s not just fair weather conversations either. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll say so. Then everyone will know where he stands.“
“I talk to everyone. If I don’t, and suddenly we have to call on a substitute, I don’t want to be paying attention to that player for the first time. You don’t want a player to think ‘ah, he suddenly has time for me, now I am suddenly important.’ I am naturally quite calm – but nor do I run away from a conflict.“
Van der Gaag’s insight will no doubt be welcomed by United fans, who have been left increasingly disenfranchised by their side this season. With players facing increasing questions over their commitment to the cause in recent weeks, hearing there will be no hiding place for them under Ten Hag and his new assistant will come as a relief.
Follow all the reaction to Ten Hag's appointment on our dedicated live blog here.
