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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Steve McClaren names key trait Erik ten Hag shares with Man United legend Sir Alex Ferguson

Steve McClaren has compared Erik Ten Hag's in-game management to that of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United have now appointed Ten Hag as their next permanent manager. United failed to win a trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim boss Ralf Rangnick, meaning the Dutchman is tasked with returning silverware to the club.

The majority of United fans preferred Ten Hag over any other candidates for the job and they'll be pleased to read what McClaren — who has been touted for a coaching at at Old Trafford — had to say. Ten Hag was McClaren's assistant at FC Twente and he's able to provide unique insight on the Dutchman.

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McClaren was recently asked about Ten Hag and he compared his in-game tactical nous to Ferguson's. "His strength was on the field, he could read game and he could adjust," McClaren told McClaren performance.

" the key. Everyone can prepare, work hard and have a plan, but when you kick-off, that plan can go out of the window sometimes. Opponents are different, they change the way they play or their style.

"Often I'd say, what do we do now Erik? He'd say drop the No.10 to the No.6 etc and we'd be ok. I'd do that and the game would change. I'll always remember, if we weren't controlling the game, he'd say for us to go man to man.

"He'd change the system, told the players, we went man to man and oh my god, he'd change the game. That's what he did, his tactical nous, his reading of the game, his adjustments were second to none.

"The best was Sir Alex. I'd say what are we going to do gaffer? It always worked, it [Ferguson's changes] was illogical. I'd sometimes say to Erik, that's illogical but it didn't matter, it will work. The gaffer [Ferguson] was the same."

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