Erik ten Hag downplays Arne Slot’s success at Feyenoord as Liverpool appoint him

Analysis:

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, plays down the achievements of Arne Slot, his compatriot who recently took over at Liverpool. Ten Hag believes that people have overly praised Feyenoord, the club that Slot managed before joining Liverpool. Despite Feyenoord finishing second in the Eredivisie this season and winning the Dutch Cup, Ten Hag insists they were not on par with league winners PSV.

According to Ten Hag, PSV Eindhoven was superior to Feyenoord in all areas. They dominated possession, applied more pressure and played with greater intensity. Ten Hag praises the work of Peter Bosz and his staff at PSV and states that they were “two classes better” than Feyenoord. He attributes PSV’s success not only to the technical staff, but also to the overall structure and organization of the club.

While Feyenoord may have had a successful season, reaching the group stages of the Champions League and reaching the play-off round of the Europa League, Ten Hag believes Slot has a better platform for success at Liverpool. He suggests that Slot will benefit from the strong foundation that Jurgen Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders leave behind. Ten Hag contrasts this with his own experience at Manchester United, where he felt there was a lack of structure and balance in the squad.

Despite leading Manchester United to victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, there are rumors that Ten Hag is on the verge of losing his job. This may be due to the team’s negative goal difference and their disappointing performances throughout the season. While Ten Hag acknowledges Slot’s potential for success at Liverpool, he also implies that his own tenure at Manchester United was challenging due to internal issues within the club.

Overall, Ten Hag’s comments provide insight into his views on Feyenoord’s performance and his own experiences at Manchester United. His comparison of Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven makes the gap between the top teams in the Eredivisie clear. Furthermore, his comments on Slot’s prospects at Liverpool shed light on the differences between the two clubs in terms of structure and squad balance. These insights offer readers a deeper insight into the dynamics within Dutch football and the challenges that managers at top clubs face.