New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was confused in a sit-down chat with reporters in Australia when he was asked if he would need the ‘hairdryer’ to get his message across to his players.
He said of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s famous temper-losing approach, via The Times, “I don’t need the hairdryer!”
Ten Hag then revealed he has held talks with Manchester United’s legendary boss, who won the Premier League 13 times and Champions League twice.
The Dutchman added that the details of the talks between the pair will, for now, remain private.
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Talks with Sir Alex Ferguson
Ten Hag told The Mail: “I had contact with him but what we spoke about is private
“It is always fantastic to talk with Sir Alex about life, but especially about football.”
It is now nine years since Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as Manchester United manager, and Erik ten Hag is the fifth permanent boss since.
He follows David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Ralf Rangnick also held the role for an extended interim period last season.
The rapid succession of bosses over the past nine years shows how badly Manchester United have got it, and one of the constants during this stretch, chief executive Ed Woodward, finally left the club earlier this year.
This long overdue departure gives United hope that it will all be different under Ten Hag. He certainly means business.
Ten Hag can also call on Sir Alex’s former United assistant Steve McClaren, who has joined his coaching staff.
‘Severe’ on discipline
Ten Hag did somewhat walk back his initial response to the question over using the ‘hairdryer’, adding, “sometimes you have to use all the set of tools you have”.
He went on to warn that if players cannot show the right attitude off the pitch, they won’t be part of his team on it, no matter who they are.
He explained, via The Mail: “When there is no discipline (off the pitch), you will not find it on the pitch.
“I’m quite severe on such issues. But I think it is on the players themselves to also be severe to each other, because if they want to achieve success they have to stick together. Sometimes there is a need for correction.
“I will tell every player what I expect of them. I have high standards because you are here, you are playing for Manchester United, then you must bring it every day on the pitch. Why are you not acting to your standards? That is an expectation I have.”
Sir Alex Ferguson would be proud. The Scot ruled with an iron fist off the pitch, always knowing what his players were up to, and wasn’t afraid to leave big names out, occasionally to the team’s detriment, but in totality, he achieved unparalleled success. If Ten Hag can manage just a fraction of it, he will have done very well.
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