What will Erik Ten Hag bring to Manchester United?

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

Erik Ten Hag is a talented manager. After winning two Eredivisie’s and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with Ajax, he now faces his biggest challenge yet, rebuilding Manchester United. Here’s what brand of football Ten Hag could bring to Old Trafford.

Like Rangnick, Ten Hag plays with attacking full-backs.

Ten Hag has many different tactics. His teams are known to play total football with a hint of Gegenpressing, something he very likely picked up in his two year spell with Bayern Munich II. One of Ten Hag’s key tactics is the role of the modern full-back.

While it may not be as high as a Jurgen Klopp team would go, Ten Hag does encourage his full-backs to press up the pitch for attacking opportunities. Similarly to Rangnick, I would assume Ten Hag favors Alex Telles and Diogo Dalot over Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, though I could also see Ten Hag make an attempt to sign out-of-contract right back Noussair Mazraoui, who he has played 31 times so far this season.

Total Football

Similarly to the great Dutch teams of the 70s and 80s, Ten Hag has implemented a style of Total Football into Ajax’s side. Midfielders and defenders have been known to almost swap positions entirely as Ajax build up from the back. This is why products of the 2019 Ajax side have found success in both defense and midfield, including Matthijs De Ligt, Frenkie De Jong, and Donny van de Beek. Attack and midfield also play a huge role.

This season, Ajax have commonly played a high playing 4–2–3–1, using two central midfielders and two wingers. As shown by the average positions map above, this year’s Ajax side let wingers play high up the field, while a striker drops back into the role of a false nine or even an attacking midfielder. Dusan Tadic and Antony have played the highest up the field this season, and have 41 goal contibutions between them. It doesn’t prevent the striker from scoring either. Sebastien Haller has scored twenty goals so far, including eleven in the Champions League. And while Cristiano Ronaldo is Cristiano Ronaldo, he doesn’t fit into this role. Perhaps it could be the perfect role for Marcus Rashford to re-find his form?

Above: Marcus Rashford will be hoping to re-find his form under Ten Hag after a dissapointing 2021-22 EPL campaign.

Transfers, Starting Lineup and Predictions In: Noussair Mazraoui Kelvin Phillips Frenkie De Jong Antony Pau Torres

Out: Jesse Lingard Anthony Martial Aaron Wan-Bissaka Victor Lindelof Phil Jones Paul Pogba (player decision) Juan Mata Nemanja Matic

There’s numerous deadwood in the Manchester United team that needs to be cleared out, including Phil Jones, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic, as well as Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard. Paul Pogba would be a good decision to keep, but I believe he’s on his way out. Some may consider Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka unlucky but someone has to leave. As for Harry Maguire, his performances have been so poor lately that no one who can afford him would be willing to take him in. Noussair Mazraoui would be a great signing, someone who has worked with Ten Hag and is out of contract. He’d be an upgrade on Diogo Dalot, and someone who could join him is current teammate Antony. The Brazillian would be a great signing for United, and could find his way into a front three alongside other superstars. Frenkie De Jong may be an unrealistic signing, but a great one if it was completed. More realistically, England international Kelvin Phillips would fit well into a United midfield, and Pau Torres should fit into a back four nicely next to Rapahel Varane.

Above: Current Ajax teammates Antony and Noussair Mazraoui would both be ideal signings for Manchester United.

Final Starting Eleven:

Predictions:

Ten Hag should aim for top four next season, along with a league cup or FA Cup to break United’s silverware drought. From their on it’s all about rebuilding the team until they finally can get to the levels of Liverpool and Manchester City are currently at.

First Top Four Birth: 2023 First Carabao Cup Medal: 2023 First FA Cup Medal: 2025 First Premier League Medal: 2027 First UCL Medal: 2028

Ten Hag certainly has quite the job to do. But he’s done a hell of a job at Ajax, so who knows? Maybe we’re seeing the start of the next dynasty.