Ajax striker credits Man Utd coach for making him ‘very strong’

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Manchester United coach Mitchell van der Gaag has been praised by Ajax striker Brian Brobbey for his gruelling training sessions.

United aren’t exactly loving life under Erik ten Hag right now, but Ajax have found it very difficult without him.

Ten Hag won three league titles in charge of Ajax and left for United after the last of those title successes.

Ajax then finished third last season as replacement Alfred Schreuder struggled before replacement John Heitinga was axed too.

In came Maurice Steijn for an ill-fated stint in charge, but he was sacked in October with Ajax hovering around the Eredivisie relegation zone.

Ajax are starting to turn the corner under John van ’t Schip but it’s clear that Ten Hag’s 2022 departure has left Ajax in a mess.

Brian Brobbey praises Manchester United coach Mitchell van der Gaag

One player shining for Ajax right now is striker Brian Brobbey.

The striker has been named Eredivisie Player of the Month after hitting four goals and one assist in his last four games.

Brobbey has now spoken to the Dutch media after winning the award and paid tribute to one Manchester United man.

Brobbey told ESPN that he loved working alongside Ten Hag’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag during their time together at Ajax.

The 21-year-old suggested that Van der Haag is the reason he is ‘so strong’, claiming that his training sessions are ‘not normal’.

“Van der Gaag has made me very strong. His workouts are not normal. He is also a very good man to talk to,” said Brobbey.

Brobbey clearly loves Van der Gaag but United players often look unfit and run out of steam before the opposition.

Maybe Brobbey just took to Van der Gaag’s methods better than many United players but we would be looking for more physicality and endurance from some players moving forward.

United have looked at Brian Brobbey

We would imagine that Ten Hag and Van der Gaag are keeping very close tabs on Brobbey’s progress at Ajax.

United allegedly looked into signing Brobbey from RB Leipzig following Ten Hag’s appointment in the summer of 2022.

Brobbey even indicated that he would like to join United under Ten Hag in two years, which would bring us to the summer of 2024.

“I’m very happy for Ten Hag. It is a very nice step. As long as he gets me again in two years. No kidding,” said Brobbey.

United will surely be in the market for another striker in 2024 and Brobbey may still be on the radar for Ten Hag and Van der Gaag.

A striker with more experience would be preferable, but there is clearly mutual respect between Brobbey, Ten Hag and Van der Gaag with a potential reunion becoming a little more likely with each Ajax goal.