December 6th 2024.
According to former Ajax player Ryan Babel, two critical errors led to Erik ten Hag's departure from Manchester United, where he served as the manager. Ten Hag's contract was terminated in late October after a heartbreaking defeat against West Ham, placing United in 14th position in the Premier League. Initially, the Dutchman had a successful first season, winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third in the league. However, things took a turn for the worse in the following seasons.
Despite a shocking FA Cup victory towards the end of last season, Ten Hag's job was still in jeopardy due to a disappointing league performance. Ultimately, he was fired after just one win in five league matches during his third season, which lasted only three months. In the beginning, Ten Hag received significant support in the transfer market, with United acquiring Antony and Lisandro Martinez, who had excelled under his leadership at Ajax. But according to Babel, who played under Ten Hag during a loan spell at Ajax, the club failed to secure his preferred transfer targets in subsequent windows, leaving him disappointed.
Babel revealed that he experienced Ten Hag's clear vision and style of play during his time at Ajax. He believes that the manager's success or failure is not solely dependent on their skills but also on the circumstances they face. In Ten Hag's case, he may have been let down by not being able to sign his top targets and had to settle for alternative options. This could have affected the execution of his desired style of football.
The former Liverpool and Fulham player also pointed out Ten Hag's lack of flexibility in tactics as a significant factor in his failure at Manchester United. Despite a successful first season, his team's defence became weak, conceding 85 goals in all competitions in his second season, the most since 1978/79 season. Babel believes that Ten Hag is an excellent coach with a clear vision and eye for football, but the Premier League is different from the Dutch style of play. He may have struggled to adapt and did not have a backup plan for strategy, leading to his downfall.
Babel stated that it is essential to have a plan B in the Premier League, and he is not sure if Ten Hag had one. He believes that the manager was too attached to his initial plan and tried to make it work, even when it was not effective. This could have been a crucial mistake, ultimately resulting in his dismissal. However, Babel has faith that Ten Hag will bounce back from this setback and prove himself again in the future.
Since being sacked from United, Ten Hag has kept a low profile, but there have been rumors of him returning to management at German club RB Leipzig if their current coach, Marco Rose, is let go. Babel believes that Ten Hag would jump at the opportunity to prove himself once again in the Premier League. He describes the manager as someone who is determined to bounce back and showcase his abilities. Only time will tell if Ten Hag will get another chance to lead a team in the Premier League and redeem himself.
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