Donny van de Beek comments prove Erik ten Hag won't repeat Manchester United mistakes

When the TV cameras followed Donny van de Beek as he made his way to the Manchester United dugout from his seat in the MCG dressing room, you might have been forgiven for swapping the world-famous Australian backdrop for any Premier League venue the Dutchman has visited.

For those with a passing interest, so little has changed or fallen for Van de Beek since his switch from Ajax coming up two years ago, but comments taken from his post-match interview underline things might be different this time around. However, it comes with no guarantee.

"Everyone was saying that [he will finally play] because I worked with him at Ajax but, in the end, you have to play good from yourself and it doesn't make any sense who is the coach. You have to find your own role... He knows me as a player, but that means nothing. I have to show it for myself."

Van de Beek and his struggles to command regular (or any) game-time at United have been documented over and over again, so to has the notion that his mentor and former Ajax manager - Ten Hag - touching down might provide a pathway to redemption at Old Trafford and beyond.

From social media clips alone, the discarded Netherlands midfielder certainly has the bit between his teeth and his fortunes moving forward will be governed by what happens under Ten Hag on these shores. Not how they worked together in Amsterdam, not because he was cast aside in Manchester.

Despite not yet being treated to his mercurial best, United supporters have warmed to Van de Beek and a key part to developing that relationship has been how the player has conducted himself in testing times. Indeed, there have been no tantrums you would expect from elite names in such a predicament as the ever-popular midfielder.

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