Former Manchester United assistant Kieran McKenna has dubbed Erik ten Hag as a "fantastic coach" as the Dutchman edges closer to being unveiled as the new boss at Old Trafford.
United have long been in talks with both Ten Hag and his current club Ajax in an attempt to iron out the details of the deal and lure the 52-year-old to Manchester to take the reins from current interim boss Ralf Rangnick. There has been plenty of debate as to whether Ten Hag is the right man to place in the United hot-seat, with Mauricio Pochettino a popular alternative.
However, Ten Hag has now received the blessing of a man who knows all about putting the players through their paces at United in the form of ex-assistant McKenna. Now at the helm of Ipswich Town as first-team manager, McKenna spent three years at Old Trafford working under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the imminent appointment of Ten Hag, McKenna said: "Obviously Erik ten Hag is a fantastic coach, I've enjoyed watching his Ajax team over the last few years. They are a team I've watched quite a lot of and I have really enjoyed the style of play that he's managed to impart there.
"I think obviously until anything official is announced it's difficult to talk too early and all the names they have been linked with are very good coaches and certainly Ten Hag is a fantastic coach."
McKenna proceeded to shed some light on what the recruitment process and the pursuit of Ten Hag looks like from the inside, claiming: "A lot of people are working very hard behind the scenes to make good decisions and get things in place for next year that will give the team a good chance to have a successful season."
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Despite now being in charge of the Tractor Boys, the Northern Irishman conceded that his affection for the Red Devils remains strong. "As a Manchester United fan and all Manchester United fans will want to see is a successful team on the pitch and I am sure they will be working hard to make the right steps in that direction over the course of the off-season."
United have plenty to improve on if they are to recover from what has been a drastically underwhelming season. Tipped for a title tilt before a ball had been kicked, the grim reality is United are staring down the barrel of missing out on top four.
Rangnick has plenty to do between now and the end of the season to try and ensure United are playing in European football's most elite club competition by the time Ten Hag, or whoever else his successor may be, arrives.
