If you need to know anything about Erik ten Hag, it is that he appears to like things done by the book.
The incoming Manchester United manager enjoyed almost five successful years at Ajax by sticking to a philosophy that everyone within his plan followed to the letter. As Ted Hastings often said in Line of Duty: 'My officers conduct themselves to the letter of the law. The letter'.
Ten Hag is a big believer in doing the same. He enjoys a structured and uniformed way of working, where everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. It is was that sort of structure being in place that led Ajax to scooping their sixth trophy of his tenure last week.
READ MORE: Manchester United training ground scuffle proves two players still care
But to ensure Ten Hag can replicate the level of success he has enjoyed at Ajax at Old Trafford, he is going to need to make sure that everyone, again, is singing from the same hymn sheet, buying into his methods, listening to every word he has to say and taking on board the advice he dishes out. That goes for everyone, not just the players.
But it is the players that will, ultimately, dictate whether or not Ten Hag proves to be a success at United. As Roy Keane correctly predicted in October 2020, the players did 'throw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under the bus' and United cannot afford for another manager to be let down by an underperforming group that are not pulling their weight.
This summer, of course, is going to see drastic changes made to the first-team squad. United need to cut out the deadwood and make significant changes, which will start with the expected departures of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani to name just a few.
But all eyes will be on which players come
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
