Rene Meulensteen has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him to “instil” four important things into the Manchester United squad after he became first-team coach.
Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time, with the iconic Scotsman leaving behind a long-lasting impact at Old Trafford.
The 82-year-old legendary Scot engineered all 13 of Manchester United’s Premier League titles and lifted two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
Ferguson was the first manager in history to lead an English side to a continental treble, with United pulling off the remarkable feat in the 1998-99 season.
The former United manager called it time on his legendary career in the dugout in 2013 after the Red Devils’ last league triumph in the 2012-13 campaign.
United have struggled to re-establish their place at the top of English football in the aftermath of Ferguson’s retirement.
Meulensteen on Erik ten Hag and Man Utd
Rene Meulensteen was the first-team coach towards the tail end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s career and was an integral figure in the Scotsman’s coaching staff.
The 60-year-old Dutchman left Old Trafford in 2013 after David Moyes, who succeeded Ferguson in the dugout, opted not to retain his services at the club.
Meulensteen appeared on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast alongside former England manager Sam Allardyce and dropped his thoughts on Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag has been under immense pressure in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign after Manchester United’s lacklustre start to the season.
Meulensteen insisted that United are currently being exposed when they press and it has “been the problem” for Red Devils boss Ten Hag.
“Whether you defend high up with a press, or in a middle block or in a low block, there are principles,” he told Sam Allardyce.
“You have the players to make the team to understand those principles. That doesn’t change from week to week or game to game.
“What is happening with United, if they do press, they’re isolated and that’s been the problem, so there’s no connection.”
Meulensteen on Ferguson and Man Utd demand
Meulensteen admitted that Ferguson made himself perfectly clear about what he demanded from his United team after the Dutchman became first-team coach.
According to the former United first-team coach, Ferguson’s “most important” requirement was how the Red Devils played in attack.
Meulensteen added that Ferguson wanted “pace, power, penetration and unpredictability,” which were the “four things” he sought from his players.
“With Alex Ferguson, when he promoted me to first-team coach, he had a flip chart board for exactly how he wanted Man United to play, from a defensive point of view, from a transition point of view and set pieces,” he continued.
“Then he said this is the most important one, this is how I want United to attack, with pace, power, penetration and unpredictability, those four things, and I want you to instil that in that team every single day no matter what you do.
“Whether it’s a shooting exercise, a condition game, a possession game, an 11 v 11, those are the things I want to see. And if you go back to when United were at the best, that’s what you saw – pace, power, penetration, unpredictability.”
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