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Erik ten Hag fires warning to Manchester United players in first interview as manager
MANCHESTER UNITED will be managed by Erik ten Hag next season.
Rangnick hopes to finally meet new Man Utd boss ten Hag
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has spoken out ahead of taking charge at Old Trafford. The Dutchman will inherit a team in disarray after a dire campaign under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. And he's certainly aware the job he's taking won't be straightforward as he looks to reel in Manchester City and Liverpool.
Speaking in his first interview as manager, Ten Hag made it clear that he has high expectations and that players he's inheriting must follow his orders.
“That is what I expect," he said when asked about the players needing to impress him.
"I have high expectations from myself and that is also what I demand from my squad.
"They have to co-operate together and they have to give every day their best. And I would say, for me, good is not good enough. We have to do better.”
Ten Hag does admit, however, that he finds the challenge of rebuilding United 'exciting'.
“That is really exciting," said the 52-year-old.
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“Also for me, of course, it’s new. I was at Ajax for a long time: four-and-a-half years.
“We had a great time, but now it’s a new start also for me and we have to build it up from the bottom, on zero.
“I have to build, starting a new relationship with the squad, with my players.”
Ten Hag is starting work early at United, having decided to leave Ajax behind ahead of schedule.
And he explained that decision by saying: “Before a season, you have to prepare and when you are in a club, I will say it’s a continual process.
“You’re working on next season and still you are in the current season.”
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“But we didn’t have that time now, and now we close the season and I’m coming over to meet people and to roll out the strategy, to prepare pre-season, prepare staff and prepare a squad.”
On similarities between United and Ajax, he added: “I think that’s the comparison.
“I have been in Bayern Munich, I have been in Ajax and now I come to Man United.
“I know our opponents are highly motivated, they are over-motivated to beat Man United and we have to be ready for that.
“To go and win that battle. Even if they are over-motivated, we have to be more.
“We always have to be more willing to win the game than the opponent.”
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And, on whether he’d make United a ‘fighting machine’, he said: “Always.
“Everywhere I was in my career, I have high demands on my players. I expect them to fight and give 100 per cent.
“I already mentioned that only good is good enough. No, not only that – we have to do better and they have to co-operate.
“They have to be unified, to form a team, and to battle the opponent.”
Ten Hag will be United’s fifth permanent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
He’ll come in after the mixed stints of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes.