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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Paul Scholes tells Erik ten Hag to copy Mikel Arteta when he takes charge of Man Utd

Paul Scholes believes that Erik ten Hag must copy Mikel Arteta's 'tough' approach to management at Arsenal as the incoming Manchester United gets set to take over at Old Trafford.

It was confirmed last week that Ten Hag would take the reigns at the Red Devils when Ralf Rangnick steps down from his time in charge on an interim basis at the end of the season. This would allow the Dutchman to finish the campaign at Ajax, where he is aiming to secure his third Eredivisie title.

With United set to finish the season outside the top-four, Ten Hag could have a major rebuilding job on his hands to try and make the club competitive again towards the top end of the division. They are currently sixth in the Premier League but in danger of being left behind by Arsenal and Tottenham, who are chasing the final Champions League spot.

The Gunners, in particular, have been much more consistent this season after struggling for form during Arteta's first full season in charge. The Spaniard has had to let the likes of David Luiz, Willian and Sokratis leave the club, while Pierre Emerick Aubameyang departed the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer in January.

Arteta has since been praised for how he handled those situations, with some of his younger players benefiting from his new-look side. And Scholes admitted that Ten Hag has to deal with the United dressing room similar to how Arteta has done it at Arsenal.

He told talkSPORT: "It is certainly a big job for him, it is a big job for anybody. I suppose there is an element of risk about it and there will be about any manager that you might appoint.

Will Erik ten Hag be a success at Manchester United? Let us know in the comments below!

"He has done really well at Ajax, I think he has got a really good pedigree, working with Pep at Bayern Munich as well. But he just has to believe in his methods. This job is 10 times the job of Ajax, we know they are the best team in Holland, and they always will be.

"Manchester United is a worldwide football club and he is going to have to take criticism at times because that's the way it is going to come. I think he has got a group of players who are talented but just has to get this group of players to believe in his methods, I think it is quite obvious that this group of players, with the last manager especially, haven't believed in what they have been coached and haven't believed in the way they have been playing.

"He has to be a tough manager, a little bit like Arteta at Arsenal, he has done a big rebuilding job and took no-nonsense. I think this manager has to be exactly the same."

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