Ten Hag is the studious boss ready to rule Old Trafford with iron fist

Erik ten Hag was talking about dressing room discipline when the subject of Sir Alex Ferguson’s fabled hairdryer came up in Melbourne on Monday.

For a moment, the bald-headed Dutchman looked puzzled before breaking into a broad smile. ‘But I don’t need the hairdryer!’ grinned Ten Hag.

It was the one moment of levity in an otherwise serious yet engaging half-hour in the company of Manchester United’s new manager. Ten Hag is every bit the studious, demanding coach he is made out to be; a man who knows what he wants and has not come to United to fail.

So what makes him think that he can succeed where the likes of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have not?

‘I must say I have a strong belief,’ the former Ajax coach replied. ‘This is a big challenge but, until now, everywhere I’ve been I’ve got the maximum out of my teams. This project is the most difficult, I realise that. I know it’s not an easy job. But I am here, so I am convinced I can do it.’

And what is the target for his first season? Ten Hag is too smart to talk about usurping Manchester City and Liverpool just yet. ‘The first target is to win every game. That has to be our approach at Man United.’

He was giving his first sit-down interview to the English media in an auditorium at AAMI Park — home to Melbourne Victory and rugby league’s Melbourne Storm — where United are training ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Crystal Palace.

It sits alongside the iconic MCG and the Rod Laver Arena at the heart of this sports-mad city. Ten Hag is in his element here.

The 52-year-old has only been working with some of his new players for a couple of weeks, so he is making the most of the opportunity to make a big impression and hammer home the principles of his football