Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has openly acknowledged that he will never be able to replicate the playing style of his iconic Ajax team at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag took the reins at Manchester United in May 2022, armed with a substantial transfer budget of £400 million. While he gained fame for his exciting and attacking brand of football with Ajax, he has faced challenges in bringing the same style to his new club.
Following a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, football pundit Jamie Carragher criticized United’s approach, labeling it as “underdog football” and emphasizing their reliance on counter-attacks and long balls.
Ten Hag has now offered insights into why it’s difficult for Manchester United to adopt the slick football he employed at Ajax.
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“We will never play that football,” Ten Hag stated in an interview with Viapla. “Because those were different players,” he explained. “This is also not why I came here. We are playing different football than I showcased at Ajax because I have to adapt; I can’t employ the same approach here. The players ultimately shape the style of play.”
“Ajax has a very distinctive and characteristic style of play,” he continued. “With Manchester United, I will always showcase a different brand of football. I did the same last year. Our style here is much more direct because I have the players who suit this approach.”
In essence, Ten Hag recognizes that the composition of his squad and the specific strengths and characteristics of Manchester United’s players necessitate a different style of football compared to his tenure at Ajax.
