Former Manchester United midfielder and current sporting director at Barcelona Jordi Cruyff has backed fellow countryman Erik ten Hag to succeed at Old Trafford.
The ex-Ajax head coach arrived in Manchester in the summer and, after a shaky start, has managed to steady the ship at United. Heading into the international break, United sit fifth in the Premier League table, a point behind fourth place Brighton.
Assessing the start to Ten Hag's tenure, Cruyff believes that the 52-year-old has recruited well and has backed him continue his successful start. "United have always had over the years a good squad," Cruyff explained to Sky Sports.
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"If you look at the squad player by player you can see that it is a good squad so there has never been a lack of talent. Sometimes good players do not make a winning team.
"That is part of the formula where things are getting more complicated. Before you would just say: 'He is a good player, he fits our style of play, our DNA, we will sign him.'
"Nowadays it is not just about that player it is about fitting him in with a player beside him, in front of him, behind him. Can they play together? That is a complete different story, it is not like a computer game.
"In the end it is about finding the right balance and I think in Ten Hag they got a new heir. It feels like it is a new start and I am talking only from the outside what I read and follow a bit.
"The new start gives a lot of expectancies so it is always difficult to manage that and in the Premier League it is always a tough league. It is very hard to predict at the start of the season who will be in the top four.
"It is a tough challenge but with enough time and enough patience and with the necessary movements in the transfer periods, I am sure they will get back to where they need to get."
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