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"You can see why Spurs didn't appoint him" - Miguel Delaney on Erik ten Hag

Miguel Delaney's first impression of Erik ten Hag fits expectations after Tottenham passed on him.



Journalist Miguel Delaney joined The Football Show to discuss Manchester United and Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United are two games into the season and already in crisis mode.

Brentford beat Erik ten Hag's side 4-0 on Saturday and they did so without leaving first gear. David De Gea was at fault for the first two goals before Lisandro Martinez was exposed and Brentford scored with a sweeping counter for the fourth.

The lack of organization and definition in the defensive shape reflects poorly on ten Hag. Christian Eriksen is already being moved around too much and Jadon Sancho is still not making any meaningful contribution.

Not only are Manchester United not better than what they were last season, they've somehow gotten worse. So there are very real questions about the quality of ten Hag's coaching.

Miguel Delaney covered the game, so Joe Molloy asked him about his first impressions of the new manager.

"You can see why Spurs didn't appoint him," Delaney said.

"Because they didn't think he was that charismatic. I know that's very harsh but I was at Chelsea yesterday and [you can see] the way Tuchel and Conte just command the room. Now, again, my experiences of ten Hag are after a 4-0 drubbing, one of the worst results Manchester United have suffered in their modern history.

"So it's a bit unfair to judge."

Manchester United must find an identity. Ten Hag must improve tactically. And the players much improve individually. If it doesn't happen, ten Hag will likely not last more than a single season as the Manchester United manager.

But it's not exclusively his fault. Manchester United's recruitment is putrid.

"Some of it comes down to the recruitment.

"Everywhere he turns is basically an issue...this is another area where I have real questions though. They're signing...so many of their targets have been from the Dutch league and it's a huge step up. At this point, given the gap, really with players coming from the Dutch League, unless they're sensations, United should be buying them from clubs like Southampton or Dortmund before then.

"Even the German league has become a bit of an unknown as well.

"Ten Hag, they've been leaning on his expertise. And this is a manager who hasn't managed outside of Holland.

"He hasn't got who he wanted."

Agents and teams take advantage of Manchester United - Andy Mitten

 

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Read more about

Brentford Cristiano Ronaldo Erik Ten Hag Lisandro Martinez Manchester United