Ex-Dutch player gives reason why 'excellent coach' Ten Hag failed at United

Erik ten Hag's time at Manchester United is now history but the discussion about what went wrong is not subsiding.

Another Dutch manager Louis van Gaal also had an unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford and famously warned Ten Hag not to take the job.

Ten Hag did have a promising first season in charge of the Red Devils, leading them to the FA Cup final, winning League Cup glory, and securing a top-four finish in the Premier League.

However, the following season was less successful for Ten Hag and his team, as they only managed an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

According to Ryan Babel, who played under Ten Hag at Ajax, the Dutchman was let down by the transfer market as he didn't get the players he wanted - which also sounds similar to what Van Gaal said.

United won the FA Cup but Ten Hag's job was under severe scrutiny over the summer. INEOS and the United hierarchy entertained several candidates to replace him. However, they ultimately chose to stick with Ten Hag heading into the new season.

This decision backfired, as they secured only three victories in their initial nine matches under Ten Hag's leadership, leading to his termination at the end of October.

Ruben Amorim was appointed as Ten Hag's successor and there is no doubt he also faces a tough challenge. He is wanting to bring his players in during the January transfer window, putting yet further financial strain on the club.

Babel opined that Ten Hag possessed a clear vision and a keen understanding of football, but his inability to secure his preferred players and adapt to the Premier League's unique challenges contributed to his downfall.

He stated, "There were occasions where he couldn’t get his top targets and he had to divert to plan B, plan C. Maybe the players he was presented with couldn’t execute the type of football he wanted to play."

Babel also noted that while Ten Hag is an excellent coach with a defined style, he struggled to adjust his strategies when the need arose in the competitive Premier League. "I think he was too wedded to his plan and tried to make it work even when it was turning against him," said Babel.

Babel is hopeful for Ten Hag's future in football management, expressing optimism that his former boss would bounce back. "He seems like a type who wants to bounce back. Whether he gets that chance, I don’t know. But he definitely wants to prove himself," commented Babel.