Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag strongly defends his managerial approach and style of play, amid a challenging period for the club.
The club is currently eighth in the league and face Fulham in Saturday’s early kick-off, following consecutive 3-0 home defeats.
Man United’s recent woes were compounded by subpar performances against Manchester City in the Premier League and Newcastle in the midweek Carabao Cup fixture. This marks the first time in 93 years that the team has lost five of their first ten home games.
Ten Hag’s quotes drew plenty of attention earlier in the week when he said that his team would never replicate the style of his successful Ajax side. Nevertheless, he emphasised his dedication to establishing a distinctive playing philosophy at Old Trafford.
“I came here with my philosophy, based on possession, but also to combine it with the DNA of Man United, but also with the players and their character,” stated Ten Hag. “We combined it last year and we played very good football last season.
“I want to play from the back and we try that in every game, but like against Man City, if they are good at pressing, it’s a good option to go direct.”
'I can't play like Ajax because I have diffferent players.' 🗯️
Erik ten Hag explains his philosophy and style of play at Manchester United 🔴🧬 pic.twitter.com/zFQNWdWuDs
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 3, 2023
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Ten Hag underlined the team’s intention to press and then go direct, playing to the strengths of their players.
When questioned about whether United lacked a coherent style, Ten Hag was cautious, stating, “I don’t want to say that. That’s too strong. The intention is clear, but the execution isn’t there.
“In the moment we’re in, with so many changes, we can’t line up the same game each time and we have to swap. We miss players in the back four, and every time we have to adjust, which doesn’t help the routines.”
Despite their poor start, Ten Hag maintained that the team’s spirit remained positive. He expressed confidence in the players’ desire to rectify their performance and emphasised the strength of the dressing room and the managerial staff, indicating their determination to bounce back.
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