Erik ten Hag has already hinted that he'd like to emulate Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola if he is given the the top job at Manchester United.
The Ajax chief has emerged as the 'clear favourite' for the vacant managerial role at Old Trafford after reports on Wednesday claimed that the 52-year-old had been interviewed by the United hierarchy. Ten Hag and the current Paris Saint-Germain boss, Mauricio Pochettino, have been persistently linked with the role ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked back in November.
However, Ten Hag has seemingly now nudged ahead in the race to claim one of the Premier League's top jobs. The Dutchman has forged a reputation as one of Europe's top coaches during his four-year stint at the helm in Amsterdam.
And if he is tasked with restoring Manchester United to their former glory, then there's every chance that he could try to follow Guardiola's lead. The Spaniard has enjoyed unprecedented success since he was appointed by United's neighbours back in 2016.
Ten Hag worked with the former Barcelona chief during his tenure at Bayern Munich. Ten Hag was coaching Bayern's reserve team during Guardiola's premiership and has emulated his former colleague both in terms of his attacking approach, and his favoured 4-3-3 formation since then.
"I learned a lot from Guardiola," Ten Hag said previously when discussing Guardiola. "His philosophy is sensational. What he did in Barcelona, Bayern and now with City, that attacking style sees him win a lot. It’s this structure that I have tried to implement at Ajax."
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While Ten Hag's admiration of his former boss has the potential to draw the ire of some United fans, it would make sense for United to attempt to emulate City given they are no longer the dominant force in Manchester. The Old Trafford faithful have had to watch City claim three league titles in the past four years while United have floundered behind the Premier League's big-hitters.
Guardiola has guided City to 10 major English league and cup triumphs to date; United have won just the League Cup and the Europa League during that same period. But if Ten Hag can replicate the success he's enjoyed in Holland - where he's won five trophies in four years - then there's every chance that he can be the man to finally guide United back to the pinnacle of English football.
As well as winning silverware, the former FC Utrecht man also has an impressive track record for rebuilding squads. Ajax have developed a habit in recent years of selling their leading stars; and that could prove decisive in the race to clinch the top job at United given the huge rebuilding job that awaits whoever the club appoint in the summer.
