Erik ten Hag will have to create a united spirit and siege mentality if he is succeed as Manchester United's next permanent manager.
That is according to former United midfielder Luke Chadwick. The 41-year-old, who started his career at Old Trafford ahead of leaving the club in 2004, has made the admission following news that some players within the Reds dressing room believe appointing Ten Hag would be an 'underwhelming' decision.
As revealed by the Manchester Evening News on Monday, there is understood to be a dressing room split concerning the possibility of Ten Hag taking charge this summer. The Dutchman has overseen an excellent job at Ajax and has earned the opportunity to take charge one of Europe's big-name giants.
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If appointed as Ralf Rangnick's successor, Ten Hag will be tasked with overseeing a huge rebuilding project, with radical changes needed at Old Trafford this summer and beyond. For Chadwick, though, building a strong team spirit and togetherness should be towards the top of his priority list.
"There's always uncertainty when a new manager comes in," Chadwick told CaughtOffside. "Player leaks about who they want coming in – it's not something that should be happening at a club like Manchester United.
"Where they're coming from I have no idea, but it's up to the new manager to come in and show the players what he is, what he's all about, and win them over. At the same time, though, you expect professional footballers to give it everything they've got to try and work for a manager and buy into their ideas.
"I'm sure every single member of staff and every player at the club will want to be successful, so it's all about pulling together. Something Sir Alex Ferguson did so well was bringing everyone together – he had a real gift of creating that siege mentality, that idea that no one outside the club likes us but we can deliver.
"Hopefully Ten Hag can do something like that, but it looks like it needs a real shift. At the moment it seems like not everyone is quite on the same page.
"While that's the case it's more or less impossible for any manager to succeed at the club."
Meanwhile, Chadwick his thrown his support behind speculation claiming that former United striker Robin van Persie could be Ten Hag's assistant. The Dutchman spent three years at Old Trafford and played a key role in their last Premier League title triumph in 2013.
Chadwick continued: "I think it certainly helps having a player of Robin van Persie's popularity at the club coming in to support the new manager. It sounds like a good idea.
"Something needs to change at United. The club have gone backwards since last season when they finished second in the league and then lost the Europa League final.
"Now they were knocked out of the first knockout round of the Champions League, and are struggling to get in the top-four. There's a lot of work for Ten Hag to do, but I think it would be a popular decision, especially with Van Persie there too.
"Let's hope it's given time to build a new dynasty at the club."
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