Gary Neville told Sky Sports at the weekend that Erik ten Hag will be desperate to avoid the pitfalls which have led previous Manchester United bosses towards failure, and rightly so.
While United are close to appointing Ten Hag, it is not done yet. The Athletic report Ten Hag wants ‘a range of assurances’ from the club.
These include an understanding on the type of input he would have on transfers, coaching staff, and contract length, as he looks to plot Manchester United’s recovery to elite status.
The Dutchman ‘will not proceed unless there is total clarity’ from Manchester United on what the job entails.
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Respect for a manager demanding respect
Manchester United need an overhaul, and have decided Ten Hag is the man to lead it. But quite rightly, he is making the point before he even starts, that he has to be given the tools to do the job properly.
If Ten Hag is not supported, then he knows United will dismiss him before his five-year plan gets a chance to breathe. He rightly wants to be able to bring in his own coaching staff, get rid of players he does not want at the club, and desires a commitment the club won’t abandon his project if the going gets tough.
So the Dutchman is making sure he understands exactly what he is walking into before he signs on the dotted line.
When news broke last month of United interviewing Ten Hag, many quipped that the discussions were actually Ten Hag interviewing United. This seems to be closer to reality than many first thought.
United are emerging from a ninth year of failure since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with no league titles to show for it, and seem further away than ever. Clearly a big overhaul is needed, and Ed Woodward’s exit behind the scenes offers hope of a fresh start.
The main problem remains that the Glazers still own the club, and yet, before he has even started, Ten Hag is making clear he is not just going to be their latest management patsy.
Ten Hag does not want to become another victim of the Glazers’ hands-off approach which gives power to middle management and not the actual manager.
The Ajax boss wants total clarity on how United will be run and the freedom he requires to enact his vision, and won’t stand for any meddling.
Making this clear before he has even started bodes well, and will force United to get their act together. If the club can’t, then it says more about them than we already know.
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