Before Manchester United wrapped up their summer tour of the US with a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas in the early hours of Monday morning, manager Erik ten Hag sat down with Mail Sport to discuss his first year at Old Trafford and the new season ahead.
Speaking at United’s training base at the University of California in San Diego, Ten Hag spoke about a wide range of topics including the new regime he has imposed at the club and his hopes of closing the gap on Manchester City.
You’ve made some big calls this summer, particularly on Harry Maguire’s captaincy and letting goalkeeper David de Gea go. How hard was that?
Ten Hag: ‘It’s the difference between a manager and a human being. In the end, top football is about getting results and then you have to make decisions, but you have to do it in an honest and transparent way.
‘The club appointed me to take such decisions in these moments, but to also communicate those decisions and do it in a straight and honest way. That is what I’m always looking to do. I always try to do it in that way.’
Erik ten Hag is set to embark on his second season as manager of Manchester United
His first season in charge saw United end a six-year trophy wait by lifting the Carabao Cup
But the season ended on a low note as Manchester City beat them in the FA Cup final
Was it simply that Harry wasn’t guaranteed to be first-choice, or was there a deeper meaning?
‘It’s nothing against Harry, it was in advantage of the team. Then you make the decision. But I will not say that Harry isn’t part of this group. He has to fight for his position.
‘He is a very good centre-back, and I believe in the potential of Harry Maguire. It’s just that he has to prove himself and fight his way into the team. It’s up to him, and I think he can do it.’
You say you believe in Harry but the evidence suggests otherwise because you don’t pick him. Does he need to move on to play regularly?
‘Didn’t I play him? See his competition. It’s tough when you’re competing with Rapha Varane and Victor Lindelof. It’s huge competition. That has nothing to do with the belief.
‘I have often chosen a player ahead of Harry, that’s true. But that says nothing about me not believing in him. He has to show he is better for the team than Rapha or Victor. I think that’s a normal situation in top football.’
Does the decision rest with Harry now? To decide if he is prepared to fight or has to leave?
‘Exactly. When you are at Man United you have to fight for your position and bring your skills in and prove you are the best for the team, and contribute the most.’
Ten Hag took the decision to strip Harry Maguire (left) of the captaincy ahead of the season
Maguire wasn’t a regular starter during Ten Hag’s first season and duly lost the armband
Ten Hag also made the ruthless decision to get rid of David de Gea to bring in Andre Onana
What was biggest thing you learned from your first season in charge?
‘As a manager, you always have to reflect and from there on you make your improvements. To tell you in a split second what was the important thing… we are taking a thousand decisions a day and I always do my best to find a construction that is based on a [strong] argument. In that perspective you think a lot before you take a decision.’
In some games last season, it seemed as though United almost panicked: Liverpool 7-0, Man City 6-3, Brentford 4-0. Is that your biggest challenge, improving game management when it goes wrong?
‘I think there were also games where we bounced back. But it’s true, we proved we can beat anyone, all of the big teams in the world. But also we had our bad days and we have to be more consistent.’
Your bad days can be pretty bad though – 7-0 at Liverpool?
‘It’s the truth, but we have to learn from that. Still, it’s only three points and the team’s character is strong.
‘Every time we bounced back after such a bad result, but also a bad performance. Also, this season I’m sure there will be bad results coming and we have to deal with it.
‘Of course, avoid it. But when it happens, we can then do damage control for a period to stay in the game and deal with difficult moments.
‘Then, in a later stage of the game, find a way back. That is definitely also one of our challenges this season.’
United suffered some humiliating defeats last season – including against some big rivals
The 7-0 thrashing they suffered against Liverpool in March was a stand-out low point
The gap between United and City when you arrived was 35 points. Last season it was down to 14. With the signings you have made, how confident are you that United can close that gap even further and maybe push for the title?
‘I think in pre-season we shouldn’t talk about that – I think no-one in the Premier League can do that. Maybe City, they can do that because for the last six years they won the title five times.
‘So they can talk about that. But any other club must first compete for the first four positions, and then after that the first two, and then maybe you can see about getting yourself into such a position. But don’t talk about that achievement.’
You said last summer that eras come to an end. Are you still confident about that?
‘I think we have proven we can beat them [Man City] but you have to do it every day and in this moment we have a way to go. City are also winning their games much more easily than we did, so I see the facts.
‘But I don’t want to talk about them because it sounds negative and it’s not the way I meant it. I want to talk about our project. I want to talk about how we improve, and I think the improvements last year and the result were quite obvious.
‘But also in the performance, it was quite obvious that we could beat the big opponents and also City. In the three games you saw, absolutely that we increased the levels against them.
‘We are looking for ourselves and not looking at other teams. We have a competition with seven or eight clubs in the Premier League, across Europe even more teams, so we have to work on our way of play and improve our performance. It has to be optimum.’
Manchester City proved too strong in the FA Cup final and remain the team to beat for United
Ten Hag managed to get the better of City and Pep Guardiola once, but lost two meetings
What did you do after losing the FA Cup final to Man City? Take a break to reflect but also look ahead?
‘Yes, of course, that was a time for me to reflect. You do it of course every day but when you have time off you have time because the next game is not in three or four days. So you have a little bit more time to do a proper reflection on the season.’
You have talked on tour about Marcus Rashford having the right mentality and also mentioned lifestyle. Is there some concern about him?
‘No, it’s in general. For all the players, you have to live the right life. Professional football is tough, so in general our players can’t match the sensational life playing top football.
‘Top football is tough nowadays: 60 games a year in club football, 10 international games.
‘So 70 games means that every third or fourth day you have to match the highest physical levels. When you’re not living the right life, you get killed.
‘What is important? Sleep, recovery, nutrition. Three key areas and when you don’t do this right, you have a problem. You can’t perform.
‘So when you ask me about Rashford, the same counts for Rapha Varane and every player. You will not reach the levels when you don’t do the things right.’
Marcus Rashford enjoyed a sensational season and proved to be United’s main goal threat
Does Marcus or any other player has a lifestyle problem?
‘So I think in general when I came in at Man United, the standards were not right. That’s true.
‘I demand the highest standards in sleep, recovery and nutrition because that makes the difference if you can perform every third or fourth day. We had to improve.
‘That is the demand for every top football player, so at Man United we are demanding the highest standards.’
Sir Alex Ferguson changed the culture at United when he arrived. Was that the biggest challenge in the first year, overhauling the whole culture and the way the players do their jobs?
‘The biggest is to get the results in but to get that you need the right culture, you need the right players, you need the right way of playing so you have to get a lot of things right and not only one.’
You talk about top football a lot. To be a top manager do you almost have to be a friendly dictator and is that what you’re like?
‘No, no, no, nah. I don’t think nowadays that would work like you’re saying.’
United’s players celebrate Antony’s goal in the 3-2 pre-season friendly loss to Dortmund
Jadon Sancho has been here two seasons now. You obviously believe in him but is this almost a make or break season for him?
‘He has the skills, so also for him it’s the same. He has to show consistently that he can make a huge contribution. When you are a front player, that end product is the key.
‘So make sure you are making the key actions, the final pass and get your goals in, because that’s why he is here.’
Do you think Jadon has overcome the problems that led to him taking some time out last season?
‘In this moment he is in a very good vibe. He decides how he is, how his mood and vibe is. I hope and expect. He has a lot of energy, we have all seen that from the moment he came back. He wants to enjoy football and be successful.’
He a very different player to the one we saw at Borussia Dortmund in terms of taking players on and the skills. Is it a confidence issue or just because he’s playing at a higher level?
‘It’s the development. The Bundesliga is perfect preparation for the Premier League which is tougher. I think your vision is a little bit grey.
‘I saw many games at Dortmund and Jadon is not such a different player in Dortmund as he is here. But also for him, he has to get more consistency in his performance but he has to do it at a higher level.’
Jadon Sancho faces a crucial third season at United but Ten Hag is prepared to back him
You have signed your main targets. Are there other areas that could be strengthened before the window closes?
‘We are always looking for better quality. So if you want to be at United you have to match a really high standard, and when we find the opportunities to get better we have to do it because everyone is expecting the best from us.
‘So we also have to raise the bar there but it’s also very important that the players understand we believe in them: believe in their potential and believe in their personalities because team spirit, togetherness, the fight together, the social connection, the relationships has to be really good among footballers. It’s a team sport and when we are unified we are stronger.’
United are set to take their spending to £179m this summer after spending £220m a year ago. Does that increase pressure on you and the team?
‘It can’t be because all the teams are investing huge money, such huge amounts. In comparison with the others, we are not doing more or less. They all invested a lot in their teams.
‘I’m not focusing on this issue because, for me, it’s totally unattractive. I have to think about my way of play and how I improve my team.
‘I will fight for players who I want to have in, and I will demand from the club to get the right players in. When we have that, we have to get results.’
Mason Mount was the first new signing through the door this summer in a midfield boost
United then signed goalkeeper Andre Onana to replace De Gea in a deal worth £47million
How much influence do you have on transfers?
‘I’m totally involved but you have seen all the investments which other clubs are making and you can’t compete in the Premier League for the top positions when you don’t invest in your squad. It’s a choice: if you want to compete, you have to invest.’
What was in your mind when you looked at the price of Harry Kane or other strikers?
‘I don’t talk about players in other clubs. I have to respect the club and respect the player. I think especially Harry Kane, I have huge respect because he is a great striker, one of the best ever. Maybe he can even be the best striker ever in the Premier League.’
You have said that United signed too many average players in past and paid the price for it. Do you expect there will be more outgoings in next few weeks and is squad shaped more as you want it?
‘I don’t want to make that comparison. Football evolves. A club evolves and there come moments where you renew your squad but you have to do it in a strategic way.
‘It doesn’t say that the players didn’t contribute to Man United because it would be really disrespectful if you approach it in that way.’
United are on the brink of strengthening their forward line by signing Rasmus Hojlund
Is Andre Onana the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet?
‘I think he proved it over the last seasons, but now he’s coming to a new club and he has to prove it here. He has the potential and the skills in that aspect to improve our game and that will definitely help our team.’
Is there any update on Mason Greenwood?
‘I said everything in New York. I don’t want to answer the question anymore because it’s not different. I’ve shared my opinion and I don’t want to repeat my opinion.’