Erik ten Hag was asked about countryman Donny van de Beek ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Fulham on Sunday.
United are gearing up for their final game before the World Cup which takes them to Craven Cottage.
Ten Hag spoke to the media in a press conference which was recorded after last night’s 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the EFL Cup.
Van de Beek started last night, as well as against Villa in the Premier League and Real Sociedad in the Europa League last week.
That means he has now started three consecutive games for the first time in his United career but he has not got a goal or an assist in those games.
Ten Hag on Van de Beek
It was put to Ten Hag that questions may soon have to be asked about whether Van de Beek has got the ability to play with the physicality and pace of English football, and he said: “Yeah, I see the opinion, but when I watched back the performance against Sociedad and at Villa, he is in the positions that I expect number tens to do.
“Nowadays that tends [to be] really difficult to show themselves. If we have the romantic idea from the number ten who is the playmaker, giving the final passes, if they have to play in the middle of the park that is really difficult there, because nowadays all the good teams close the middle of the park.
“So it is really difficult to get a lot of ball touches. That is not the player Donny van de Beek is, but what he is doing well is his positioning and his movements into space with strikers, especially with that number nine.
“That combination is really good, positioning and anticipation in and out of possession, and he did it to my satisfaction in the last games. But I have seen he is not on the scoring list, he is not on the assisting list, and he can do better.
“I think he’s still not there on his limits. I have seen him better in the past. But I think positioning-wise, he is acting quite well. But he has to make that step up.”
Van de Beek spent the second half of last season on loan with Everton but that move did not really go to plan either.
Ten Hag was asked if the Dutchman needed another loan spell but refuted that, saying: ““I don’t think a loan [makes] sense.
“It’s either he fights [for] himself and proves himself, in this atmosphere in this environment, or he goes.
“But for me, there is still a way for him, there Is still a perspective for him. It’s not going to be easy because the competition there is really strong.”
United fans have had patience and goodwill for Van de Beek, but it is looking more and more like he will struggle to make the grade.
When his old manager from Ajax comes in, who knows all his strengths and weaknesses, and still preferred to use Scott McTominay and Fred in pre-season, the writing was on the wall somewhat.
Perhaps Van de Beek will improve if he gets more games and fitness, but it might be an interesting January window for the midfielder, especially if United get any concrete interest in him.
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