A former Manchester United signing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now candidly spoken out about why he was unable to turn things around under Erik ten Hag.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by the Premier League club in November 2021 after the Red Devils were thrashed 4-1 by Watford at Vicarage Road.
The 51-year-old United legend initially became caretaker manager in 2018 after Jose Mourinho was dismissed before Solskjaer’s appointment was made permanent in 2019.
Ralf Rangnick served as interim manager after former Red Devils boss Solskjaer was axed and oversaw the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign with United.
Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 as Solskjaer’s permanent successor and the former Ajax boss enjoyed both the highs and lows at the Premier League club.
The 54-year-old Dutchman lifted the League Cup in his debut season at Old Trafford before leading United to the FA Cup trophy in the 2023-24 campaign.
Ten Hag’s reign at United came to an end in late October after a disappointing start to the Premier League season, despite signing a contract extension in the summer.
Solskjaer signing at Man Utd speaks out
Donny van de Beek endured an ill-fated spell at Old Trafford after Manchester United signed the Dutchman from Ajax for an initial fee of £35m in 2020.
The 27-year-old former United midfielder was a shadow of his former Ajax self and Van de Beek was left struggling for regular first-team opportunities.
Donny van de Beek, whose United spell was curtailed by injuries, was loaned out to Everton in 2022 and struggled to revive his career during his six-month loan spell.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure from Old Trafford paved the way for Van de Beek to be reunited with Erik ten Hag, who coached the Dutch midfielder at Ajax.
“I came from so far away, needed rhythm and a series of matches, but that was simply not possible,” Van de Beek said, as per VoetbalPrimeur.
“The result was that I started to drive myself crazy. I had to show what I could do in a match, which meant I went way too much. doing, and passed myself by.”
Van de Beek on Man Utd spell under Ten Hag
Donny van de Beek was unable to establish himself under Ten Hag and the former Netherlands international was loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2024.
Eintracht Frankfurt had the option to buy the United flop at the end of his six-month loan spell, but Van de Beek failed to impress and was sent back to Old Trafford.
Van de Beek, who netted twice and registered two assists in 62 appearances for United, was sold in the summer to Girona for an initial £420,600 transfer fee.
The Girona midfielder revealed his situation at home did not help when he was on loan at Frankfurt and Van de Beek lost a lot of “confidence” in himself.
“In addition, my home situation was anything but pleasant,” Van de Beek said.
“Estelle was heavily pregnant, and we decided that she would stay in England for the birth. My daughter together with her.
“She in Manchester, I in Germany. I was there on my own in Frankfurt. My family in England, things weren’t going well with football. I thought during that period sometimes really: What am I doing?
“If you play so little, you also lose confidence. That starts to eat away at you, and that’s not good as a player.”
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