"I set requirements in advance about how I want to work," Erik ten Hag told a Dutch newspaper following his appointment as Manchester United manager in the spring of 2022. "If they aren't granted, I won't do it.
I am ultimately responsible and accounted for the results. I don't want to be the sole ruler, I stand for cooperation, but control in transfers is a condition for me." Ten Hag signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Casemiro in his first summer in charge and only the latter arrived without having once played in the Eredivisie.
There were waffles and bottles of Heineken in the press conference room at Old Trafford when Ten Hag was unveiled to the media and that signalled a Dutch revolution in Manchester for a second time. ALSO READ: Pellistri attracting loan interest ALSO READ: United have already replaced Sancho The difference between Ten Hag and Louis van Gaal is that although the 72-year-old recruited players with Eredivisie pedigree, his transfer policy was not solely based on signing players from that division.
Ten Hag signed Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat (on loan) in his second summer, which means six of the ten players permanently signed on his watch have history in the Eredivisie.