ERIK TEN HAG claims Manchester United are a “long way” off a title challenge after he inherited a “no good culture”.
The Old Trafford chief also believes ex-interim boss Ralf Rangnick was spot on to say the club needed “an operation of the open heart”.
The Red Devils spent more than £95million in total on their first two summer signings – 18-year-old centre-back Leny Yoro, who started Saturday’s friendly against Rangers, and striker Joshua Zirkzee.
It’s reckoned up to three more players may arrive in the current transfer window under Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s new Ineos-backed regime.
But Ten Hag‘s concern runs far deeper than the strength of his squad.
The Dutchman is worried, above all, about the lack of a “winning culture” he observed after switching from Ajax in 2022.
He told AD Sportwereld: “Rangnick was absolutely right.
“We’ve been working very hard on that for two years, but he said it just right – it’s a thorough, very complex operation.
“And I knew when I started that it was going to be a tough job.
“There are a lot of people who have advised me – Louis van Gaal (ex-United chief) too.
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“We want this club back to where it was more than a decade ago, to a club that wins the Premier League, which can win Champions Leagues. We are really a long way away from that, I think.”
Ten Hag notched third place in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup in his first season at Old Trafford.
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But United came eighth last term, their lowest-ever Prem finish – having last lifted the crown in 2013.
However, a tactical triumph in beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final helped save Ten Hag’s job following an intensive review.
He said of his reign: “I think we’ve taken steps since then, otherwise we wouldn’t have won two prizes (trophies) either.
“But we are not yet so far that a ‘winning culture’ already prevails here in all respects. Our standards, our norms and values, still need to go up.
“The culture, the mentality was really not good. To win, to really achieve top performance every week, we had to change a lot.”
Meanwhile, in the short term, Ten Hag must sort out the future of players like wingers Jadon Sancho and Antony, while frontman Marcus Rashford also faces doubts after his mediocre 2023-34.
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
