Eric Ten Hag (55), the former manager, has spoken out for the first time since being dismissed from Manchester United (Man U).
Ten Hag was recognized as a successful leader at Ajax. After taking office in January 2018, he achieved outstanding results, winning the Dutch professional football league Eredivisie three times (2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 seasons).
Ten Hag took the helm of Manchester United in April 2022. He signed a three-year contract with an option to extend for an additional year until June 2025. He was tasked with the heavy mission of rebuilding the historic club.
Ten Hag enjoyed some success by winning the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) in the 2022-2023 season and the FA Cup in the 2023-2024 season. However, controversies arose due to perplexing player signings, a decline in team performance, and conflicts with certain players.
Ultimately, Ten Hag was dismissed in October of last year. Since then, he has entered a period of anonymity, not appearing in public. Manchester United appointed Ruben Amorim (40), the former Sporting CP manager, as Ten Hag's successor. However, the club continues to struggle.
According to the British 'Mirror' on the 26th (Korea time), Ten Hag reflected on his time at Manchester United through an interview with the Dutch sports agency 'SEG.' Notably, there was criticism of the Manchester United players.
Ten Hag stated, "A player's well-being depends on how they handle media and fan reactions, as well as social media (SNS). Such factors influence their performance."
He added, "For some players, it can be positive, but for others, it has negative effects," emphasizing, "The current generation cannot endure criticism. It hits them hard."
He also noted, "Our generation had stronger mental resilience. We could accept a much more direct approach," adding, "But if we use that style now, players lose motivation. The next day, they might be at HR (Human Resources)."
When asked if it was difficult to give direct feedback to the players, Ten Hag explained, "It's possible, but that presents a challenge. You have to convey the same message in different ways. If not, players feel insulted."
He reflected, "We took criticism as a 'gift.' We tried to unpack it and improve. The old way was more effective," stating, "We could clearly identify what needed to be fixed. But now, we have to be more cautious to achieve the same results."
In fact, Ten Hag had public conflicts with Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) and Jadon Sancho (Chelsea). Ultimately, Ronaldo left for Saudi Arabia after terminating his contract with Manchester United, and Sancho was loaned to a Premier League rival.
Ten Hag revealed, "There is much to learn as a coach over 22 years. In the beginning, I tried a strict approach, but it was ineffective in the first year. So, I adjusted my methods and tried to communicate more softly."
He continued, "It's not that I became less strict; rather, I conveyed my messages with more consideration," stressing that, "Our generation found that difficult, but it is an essential approach for players today."
In particular, Ten Hag hinted at the possibility of completely leaving the football world. He has been linked with managerial roles at Borussia Dortmund and his former club Ajax but is considering other options as well.
Ten Hag explained his future, saying, "There are many things I can do outside of football. I could remain in a new role as a coach. That is also one option. But I could also do something entirely different."
He added, "These days, I am working with my brothers. We are running our own company. No, actually, it’s a company run by my brothers," stating, "And there’s also a company that my father and I operate. Now I have more time to focus on that. It is also very enjoyable."