Erik ten Hag broke into a broad smile when asked if he possessed a ferocious hairdryer temper like Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I don't need the hairdryer,” said a laughing ten Hag, referring to his bald head, before addressing his temperament within the dressing-room. “But it is a tool that a coach has," said ten Hag. "Most of the time, it will be normal behaviour. But sometimes you have to use all the set of tools you have.”
Twenty-five minutes in the company of ten Hag and one thing is abundantly clear – Manchester United's new boss is possessed with the same drive and conviction as Ferguson, his most decorated predecessor. More celebrated and experienced managers than ten Hag, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have fallen short at United in recent years, but the 52-year-old is convinced he can succeed where they failed.
“I must say I have a strong belief,” said ten Hag, speaking at Melbourne's AAMI Park during a break from United's pre-season tour. “This is a big challenge but, until now, everywhere I’ve been I’ve got the maximum out of my teams. This is the project that is the most difficult. I realise that, but I'm here so I'm convinced I can do it. It's a pleasure, that’s why I took it.
“I know it's not an easy job, but that gives me some joy and energy, together with all the people around, to make a unified co-operation – and that has to be the platform for success.”
Discipline was a big factor in ten Hag's success at Ajax and he has imposed similarly strict rules at United, including no mobile phones at mealtimes and players being dropped if they are late. “I think one of the issues, when you want to get results, is that you need a team,' said ten Hag.
“It's organisation, co-operation and you also need discipline. When there's no discipline around, you will not find it on the pitch as well. With such issues, I’m quite severe. But I think it's on the players themselves to also be severe to each other, because if they want to achieve success, they have to stick together. Sometimes there is a need for correction.
“It's a process and everyone has to stick together. There has to be a structure in the team, a platform for how we can win games. I have a clear idea about strategy. The way I want to play football, but also in the way a top football club has to be structured.
“We talked [with the club] about those ideas and we agreed on the structures and the way we play football. Now we have to implement that.”
As well as improving their fitness and implementing a new style of play, ten Hag acknowledged the importance of rebuilding the broken confidence of United's players after last season's shambles.
“You can see it affects the players,” said ten Hag. “Now we have to cheer them up and motivate them. We're trying to bring the confidence back. That is one of the important points to get success - you have self-belief as an individual and as a team.”
Time will tell if ten Hag is successful, but his hardline approach, both on and off the field, means United's players will have nowhere to hide under him this season.
“I look to the player, I have a certain demand and I will tell them if they have capabilities, but you have to invest,” said ten Hag. “I will tell every player what I expect of them. I have high standards because when you're playing for Manchester United, you must bring it every day on the pitch. That's an expectation I have.”
