Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has warned Erik ten Hag he will need the full support of the club’s hierarchy if he is to succeed at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag looks to be on the verge of becoming United’s new manager and is thought to have verbally agreed a contract ahead of his arrival in the summer. United are yet to confirm the appointment, although they intend to have a deal wrapped up before the end of the season.
The Ajax boss will have plenty to deal with this summer as he picks up the pieces of what has been a dismal season. The extent of his upcoming job was on full display on Tuesday night as United were thrashed by Liverpool following yet another lacklustre display.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick suggested after the game that United could need up to 10 new signings during the summer as part of a major rebuild. Meulensteen, who worked as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s backroom staff and has been linked with a return to Old Trafford as Ten Hag’s assistant, has warned his fellow countryman his chances of success will depend on the backing he receives from the club’s hierarchy.
Asked how Ten Hag can achieve success at United, Meulensteen told Sky Sports’ The Football Show: "Depends on the support, not from the playing point or philosophy. Yes, he might have to tweak some things here and there because, like I said, the Premier League is different to the Eredivisie. But he needs support, he needs time and he needs to bring the right players in. Players with the right personality, the right characters.
"He needs winners and that is going to be the big thing. If he brings the right players in, he's got the right philosophy and he gets the time, then yes."
Meulensteen added: "In terms of the philosophy, the way he wants to play, the work that he's done at Ajax, I can see it being an appointment that could work for Manchester United. I would imagine that Erik himself, the way that I know him, would have done a lot of work, due diligence sort of stuff to see where Man United is, and it's no secret that he exactly knows what Manchester United is at the moment and he also knows what sort of work he's got ahead of him.
"It's a massive job, it would have been a massive job for everybody, and it will be a massive job for Erik as well. Nowadays it's always a risk for anybody, whether you bring in an experienced coach or a young coach."
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