Man Utd dressing room already concerned Ten Hag lacks crucial quality to transform Old Trafford
Some members of the Manchester United dressing room reportedly feel concerned that Erik ten Hag does not have the strength of character to transform the club.
The Red Devils are in need of a serious lift after a sub-par season which has left them all-but without Champions League football next term. Indeed, Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal looked like the final nail in their coffin for their hopes of a top-four finish.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick admitted as such in his assessment of his side’s second successive Premier League loss.
However, there is hope that Ajax boss Ten Hag can turn things around. The Dutchman is to take charge of Man Utd in the summer on an initial deal until 2025.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the United players feel ‘encouraged’ by what they have seen from Ten Hag.
The 52-year-old has led Ajax to two Eredivisie titles in his time in charge. He also took them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, where they lost in the dying moments to Tottenham.
But while the players admire his coaching and tactical know-how, concerns remain among some players.
Some in the camp reportedly wonder if Ten Hag is a strong enough candidate to oversee a full rebuild at Old Trafford.
Those in question have concerns over the new manager’s personality and whether he can truly galvanise the players.
The Manchester Evening News claims that some United players wanted Mauricio Pochettino to step in when the club enquired over his availability, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking.
And while they will now back Ten Hag instead, there are worries over whether he is the right fit.
Ten Hag is looking to leave Ajax on a high with a third Eredivisie title to his name.
Ten Hag faces immediate Man Utd test
The coach is not only stepping into Man Utd at a crossroads for the club but also for the squad.
Nemanja Matic has confirmed that he is leaving in the summer. Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard will follow him, unless they sign new contracts in the coming weeks.
Those three departures will leave a significant hole in midfield, where Ten Hag reportedly wants a new signing.
However, current interim boss Rangnick insisted that the new boss will not be able to perform a quick fix.
On Friday, the German compared the job at hand to “open heart surgery”. After last Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, meanwhile, he claimed that United are “six years” behind the title-chasing Reds.
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