Dimitar Berbatov has warned Manchester United’s players they should be ‘worried’ about their futures when Erik ten Hag arrives as manager.
Ten Hag will take over at Old Trafford at the end of the season, having been confirmed as United’s new boss this week. The 52-year-old becomes the club’s fifth permanent manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
The Dutchman will have a huge task on his hands as he looks to pick up the pieces after what has been a dismal season at Old Trafford. A major rebuild looks to be in the works, with interim manager Ralf Rangnick suggesting United need as many as 10 new signings.
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A number of players are already expected to leave the club in the summer, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani coming to the end of their contracts. There are plenty of questions lingering over others, though, after a lacklustre campaign, and former United striker Berbatov has sent a stark warning to the club’s players.
Commenting on Ten Hag’s appointment, Berbatov told Betfair : “I wish him all the luck in the world, and I hope he makes smart choices when he rebuilds the team. He has to bring the right players in to suit his philosophy. I hope that they can find the right players and system to bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford.
“He has to find the right players to suit his system. If he can get that right then everything will be easier. Most of the players at United should be worried about a potential rebuild, this season hasn't gone well and everybody will be asking questions about their future.
“It all depends on the new manager and he will be starting to work on who he wants to keep at the club as soon as possible. It's a difficult process, and he has to make the smart choices, we have already witnessed in the past that when you buy a player for the sake of buying a player it doesn't work out. You have to be smart in the transfer window.
“When you play, and a new manager comes in there is a lot of emotions going through you. There's excitement, expectation, uncertainty, you may have an idea of a new manager but you never really know how things will go.
“Players who haven't had a chance may get time to play, or maybe they will be sold. New players will come in and if that is to be the case then Ten Hag needs to know exactly which players he needs to bring in to play his way.”
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