Erik ten Hag has left a mess behind after being fired by Manchester United – his time at Old Trafford makes Liverpool’s decision to appoint Arne Slot look better by the day
Erik ten Hag failed to show any clear strategy during his time at Manchester United, whereas Arne Slot’s influence has been clear from the start at Liverpool
So Erik ten Hag has gone. The big question is, how did he manage to stick around for so long?
It’s telling that after Manchester United’s decision was announced on Monday, there were countless heartbroken supporters sharing tributes on social media. What was even more telling was the fact that most of them weren’t United fans
Put simply and brutally, the Old Trafford club – once the dominant force in the Premier League – has become a laughing stock. Having had to put up with unbearable United supporters during those years under Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool fans are rightfully enjoying the current mess on show down the M62.
Ten Hag seemed a sensible enough appointment back in 2022. He’d enjoyed unrivaled success in the Netherlands with Ajax, and had re-established the club on the European stage. From the moment he sat down for his first press conference though, there were signs that his hiring hadn’t been thought out.
Asked about his style upon his unveiling, Ten Hag said: “Maybe you have seen Ajax? And I like that. But it is always players who dictate the way of play.
I have the ideal, I will line up my best team, and I will line up my players like that to get the best out of them. That they can go to the maximum, that they feel comfortable in the role and in the end it’s about getting the success together.”
That might seem like a standard enough comment to make from a new manager, but looking back now, it perhaps should have been the first warning sign for United. Ten Hag decided his style would be dictated by his players, and that has proven to be a disastrous approach.
Compare that to Liverpool’s appointment of Arne Slot, a decision that was thought out in order to make it an easy transition from Jurgen Klopp, and one that would fit in perfectly with the club’s values. The Reds passed on the likes of Ruben Amorim to land on Slot, who wasn’t the first name on most people’s lips, but has proven to be an inspired hire since.
It is my style but I think it is the style of many modern coaches at the moment: we were all a bit inspired because of the rivalry between City and Liverpool,” Slot said in his first interview as Liverpool head coach.
“We were all inspired by Guardiola and Klopp and I think at a big club, which I worked in in Feyenoord as well, it is probably the only style you can play – to have the ball a lot, to have a lot of energy, and I think also now there are comparisons between the club I left behind and the club I am going to work for now.
