'Next level' - Why Manchester United and Erik ten Hag overhauled coaching staff

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes the changes made to his coaching team this summer will help his team reach the 'next level.'

United have made sweeping changes to the landscape of their first-team coaching setup this summer, bringing in Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as Ten Hag's new assistants, goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar and most recently set piece specialist Andreas Georgson.

Those incomings have seen Mitchel van der Gaag, Benni McCarthy and experienced goalkeeping coach Richard Harris depart. Steve McClaren will also soon leave the club after agreeing to become Jamaica's new head coach.

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Van der Gaag, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, joined the club with the United boss in 2022, as did McClaren and McCarthy. It means the United manager is having to familiarise himself with new additions to his inner circle. Nevertheless, Ten Hag, who oversaw a 3-2 win over Real Betis in San Diego on Wednesday night, has welcomed the changes, insisting they will help the club make progressive steps.

Addressing Van der Gaag's exit, Ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "I'm very, very grateful for what he did for us. But he wants to go another way, he wants to be a head coach.

"Similar with Steve McLaren, which is good for them, but also I think for our process is good to go into the next level. We need new ideas, new energy, new dynamics, and it will help us to energise the team and to bring it to the next level."

Van Nistelrooy, who played for United between 2001 and 2006, has been a popular addition to the club's coaching staff, already earning plenty of plaudits.

Goalkeeper