Erik ten Hag is 20 days away from making his first appearance in the Old Trafford dugout when Manchester United face Brighton on the opening weekend of the Premier League.
The Dutchman is currently making sure his United players are ready for his new generation and culture shift during their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. Mirror Football's David McDonnell is out there with the squad and sat down, alongside other members of the UK print media, with Ten Hag to discuss everything from style of play and Cristiano Ronaldo to challenges and not needing Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer!
This is the full transcript of that conversation...
Hi Erik, how has the tour been so far for you?
“Good, I think we are now three weeks on our way, two with the full squad, I think we have done well. The players respond well to the demands we have, I have, I set some standards, we introduce how we play, and I’m satisfied with that."
Players are saying it's one of toughest pre-seasons for them, in terms of running. Were they fit enough when you arrived?
“Yes – this is why we started them quite early, for fitness, but also I wanted to bring in a certain way of playing. It won’t be done when we finish pre-season, but when we finish pre-season we have to get results.”
What is that certain way of playing?
“We want to play proactive, attacking football where its possible, we want to play good, but if we don’t play good, we still have to win.”
Can we expect United to play like your Ajax team?
“I don’t think so – our team will be different of course, because it's different players, a different type of football, that is clear - there is also a direct bridge to Manchester United. Finally it's about the players you have, because I cannot change the identification [characteristics] of a player.”
What are your predictions for this season, Man Utd fans? Stick your thoughts down here
How do you get your message across to players?
“It's a quite a lot – a lot, let’s say, a package of tools you have as a coach – of course training sessions, you have meetings, collective and also individual, and they all have their own theme and topics. Also, it'is a process and finally has to stick together [be unified] – it has to be a structure in the team, a platform for how we can win games.”
Is it realistic to talk about the title or does top-for have to be the aim?
“The first target is to win every game, that has to be our approach, that belongs to Manchester United.”
How big a challenge is the job?
“It's a pleasure, that’s why I took it. I know it's not an easy job, but that gives me some joy, energy together with all the people around, to bring in to make a unified co-operation and that has to be the platform for success.”
Do you want your players to show joy and happiness when they play?
“Yes, sure. That brings motivation when you have joy.”
What gives you the confidence that you can succeed at United, where other managers have failed?
“I must say I have a strong belief. This is a big challenge but, until now, everywhere I’ve been I’ve got the maximum out of my teams, and this is the project that is the most difficult. I realise that, but I'm here so I am convinced that I can do it.”
How do you assess the confidence levels of the squad? Do they need lifting?
“Yes, I think so. You can see that it affects the players. Now we have to cheer them up and motivate them. We are trying to bring the confidence back. That is one of the important points to get success, that you have self-belief as an individual and as a team.”
How do you do that?
“That is also a process and you have certain tools that you can use, and you talk about individual talks for instance, the positive approach. But sometimes also you can be highly demanding, because that is what we expect, and we give them feedback. But if they don’t, why are you not acting to your standards? And that is the question I am asking to the players.”
Ralf Rangnick said it will take two or three windows to get to the level of Manchester City and Liverpool. Do you agree?
“I will not make such a statement. I want to get the maximum out of the players who are now here and I think it belongs to Manchester United that you are always looking for better, for competition, because that is a tool to lift a player.”
You've signed Lisandro Martinez. Will he go straight into the team?
“I think the players who are there, we have the perspective immediately to contribute and also Martinez. We bring him in to not strengthen the squad, but the team.”
Did you sign him to play a high line?
“We have good players there but I also think that we need a squad that is also good and deep, but I analysed United last year in the left part of the defence. He is left-footed and that is an advantage in possession and defending. And he also brings a South American aggressiveness, control. He can bring spirit to the team and in cooperation with the fans. I think it will fit really well with Manchester United and the way we play.”
Can Harry Maguire play a high line defensively?
“I think so. We have good centre halves and Harry is one of them. He can play on the left side and on the right because he is a right-footed centre-half.”
Was there any debate for you about keeping Harry Maguire as captain or did you think about putting it to the players to vote?
“No, I always see the captaincy as an issue that I dictate. Team building for me is an important point and I always talk about a group of leaders. The captain is a really important one and I’m happy with him.”
The captain normally plays, so you must see Harry as a first-choice player?
“I think he is. He’s proved it in the past but he has also to prove it in the present and in the future. He's played 60 times for England. Harry is really impressive and I expect a lot from him. But there is also internal competition and that is what a club like Manchester United needs. You cannot win with 11 players. We need a squad, especially this season with so many games. We have the Europa League, the Premier League and the World Cup, so we need a full squad with high-quality players, not quantity.”
Harry had a difficult time last season. Do you hope that keeping him as captain will give him more confidence?
“It can help. I will support him everywhere I can. In the end, he has to do it by himself, and he has the qualities to do it. He has showed it so often in the past.”
You’ve signed three players so far and are pursuing Frenkie de Jong. What are your expectations of that?
“We're looking for a player who can play in the holding midfield position, but it has to be the right one. There are not many in that position capable of the level we demand. When we can’t find him, we have to deal with the players in our squad now and we will develop one in that position.”
If you can’t sign De Jong this summer would you prefer to wait to get him at a later date or sign someone else now?
“I will not react on a certain player. We need the right player. We have a list and we qualify as the player who has the competences to play that role. We will strike the moment the player is available.”
Have you spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo since you have been on tour?
“The same status as last week in Bangkok. No change.”
Cristiano hasn’t done a pre-season with you. Are you planning to start the season without him so he can catch up?
“I think so, but he is training. I think we all know Ronaldo is a top professional and he will be fit, that is the last concern I have.
Can he play regularly for an Erik ten Hag team that likes to press from the front, at the age of 37?
“I think Cristiano is capable of doing that. In his career he has shown everything.”
He won’t slow you down?
“I have set my demands. We want to play in a certain way. A top player can contribute and Ronaldo is an absolute top player in our squad.”
It doesn't look like Ronaldo will come out on tour, but will he be back in Manchester next week when the rest of the squad are back?
“I cannot tell you. Not yet.”
There's a debate that to get the best out of Ronaldo, you need to play with two up front. Would you accommodate him like that or will you not change your usual 4-3-3?
“The players dictate the way you play, especially players who score goals because they are extremely important for a team. You construct your team around them.”
Do you feel there are a lot of goals in this squad, it was something they struggled with last season?
“I think we have scoring players and the first two games already showed that.”
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are currently out of the England squad but do you think this fresh start at United could be beneficial to you and increase their motivation with the World Cup coming up?
“I think so. I think every player wants to be at the World Cup and it's once in four years. The moment is not that often, so the players will know that.They have to have that in their minds and they will respond to that fact.”
The club have changed their transfer structure recently and you've clearly had a big say in transfers. What have you made of the relationship with John Murtough and how the club operates in the transfer market?
“I think we cooperate well with John Murtough, really good communication. It's the same I think with Richard Arnold. I feel really comfortable with it.”
Is it fair to say that in your interview for the job, you had strong views on the issues at the club and how you would fix them?
“I think I have a clear idea about strategy. The way I want to play football but also in the way a top football club has to be structured. We talked about those ideas and we agreed on the structures and the way we play football. Now we have to implement that.”
Martinez isn't the tallest centre-back, you must be confident that won't be an issue for him in English football?
“I think he's not the tallest, but he is quite good in the air. I feel comfortable with that. Of course, you need the right balance. He has good timing, that's one of his capabilities.”
You've signed Tyrell Malacia and Martinez from Holland, and Christian Eriksen has played for Ajax, is there a strategy behind going for players who have played in Holland?
“I would like to sign English players, because I think there's only one criteria and that's quality, in combination with the price. It looks like English players are quite expensive. It's a fact you cannot deny. In the end it's about quality.”
Cristiano only has one year left on his contract, how difficult will it be to accommodate him when you know if he stays this season, it will only be for one more year?
“I am well informed, he also has an option, no?”
So he could stay beyond this season?
“Yes, but to be honest, of course I have signed here for three years, but in football it’s short-term as well. We have to win from the start. So I don’t look that far ahead. I have a strategy, it’s a process, it takes time, but in the end we have to make sure from the outset there is a winning team.”
On Jadon, we heard in the training session you being firm with him, wanting him to run “inside” in that particular drill, he seemed to take that well in terms of the next game and was enjoying himself. What have you made of him? He came for a lot of money, showed glimpses of what he can do but perhaps didn’t hit the heights expected, what have you found of him so far?
“I have nothing but high expectations. I look at the player and I have a certain demand. And I will tell them, if they have capabilities, but you have to invest. It is not just in terms of Jadon, it is for every player. I will tell every player what I expect of them. I have high standards because you are here, you are playing for Manchester United, then you must bring it every day on the pitch. That is an expectation I have.”
Are you a tea cup thrower? We say in English…
“What?”
Do you throw things or shout in the dressing room?
“But it is a tool that a coach has. Most of the time it will go in a normal behaviour way. Sometimes you have to use all the set of tools you have.”
Sir Alex Ferguson had the hairdryer, what is yours?
“I don’t need the hairdryer!” [laughs]
You look like you’ve already brought a bit of fear, there is authority, do players know they are going to have to behave and stay in line with you?
“I think one of the issues when you want to get results, you need a team. It is organisation, co-operation, and also you need discipline. When there is no discipline around you will not find it on the pitch as well. Such issues I’m quite severe. But I think it is on the players themselves to also be severe to each other, because if they want to achieve success they have to stick together. Sometimes there is a need for correction.”
Have you spoken to Sir Alex since you’ve been at the club?
“Yes.”
What did he say?
“I had contact with him but what we spoke is private.”
How much of a boost was it?
“It is always fantastic to talk with Sir Alex about life, but especially about football.”
Thanks Erik.
“Have a good time.”
