Man Utd and Erik ten Hag: 5 things noticed from watching his Ajax side in action

Manchester United's season is rapidly fading into obscurity - meaning there is already a keen eye on the future.

With Erik ten Hag already confirmed as the next manager at Old Trafford, there is plenty of interest in his Ajax side as he fights to depart as an Eredivisie title winner. Despite battling an injury crisis, Ten Hag took a major step towards making that dream farewell a reality with a XXXX win over PEC Zwolle at the Jurgen Cruyff ArenA.

Dusan Tadic opened the scoring with a spectacular volley before ex-Everton ace Davy Klaasen tapped in a rebound after Jurrien Timber had hit the post. Klaasen then wrapped up the win with a curling long-range effort. It was a job well done for Ajax with several key players missing through injury and PSV still piling on the pressure in the title race.

Here's a look at five things we noticed from being in attendance to watch Ten Hag's Ajax in the flesh - and what Manchester United can come to expect.

The most noticeable aspect of watching Ten Hag’s Ajax in the flesh was flexibility and fluidity.

It is something which can perhaps only be fully appreciated watching a game in person with a full picture of the pitch rather than with a more focused view on TV, but none of Ajax’s players really stuck rigidly to a position.

Centre-backs Daley Blind and Jurrien Timber would be happy to cross one another in possession, or play a progressive pass and follow it with a forward run.

On one occasion with ten minutes left in the first half, Blind found himself bursting inside the box and almost setting up Dusan Tadic for a second goal.

In the second half, it was role reversal as Timber raced into the box and saw his effort strike the post before falling to Davy Klaasen to score the rebound.