Erik ten Hag is under increased pressure after Manchester United’s defeat to Newcastle (Reuters)
Gary Neville believes Erik ten Hag has been ‘damaged’ by rival managers making a quicker impact in the Premier League and says Louis van Gaal is the only one who has implemented a playing style at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
United suffered another setback at the weekend as they delivered a dismal performance in their 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle on Saturday evening.
Ten Hag is now under increased pressure ahead of United’s Premier League clash at home to Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
And Neville believes the Dutchman is yet to have a significant impact on the team during his 19 months in charge at Old Trafford.
‘You can play poorly and win but Manchester United have been doing that now for a long time,’ Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast.
‘I was critical of Louis van Gaal at Manchester United and I felt his football didn’t suit the club and how Manchester United should play, which is more the Klopp style of play, I’m going to use a current manager who plays really electric football, fast, pressing, get it forward, be a bit more direct.
Louis van Gaal is the only manager to implement a playing style at Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, says Gary Neville (Getty)
‘I can’t think of a team since Louis van Gaal… Louis van Gaal dominated football matches at Manchester United, there was a style of play.
‘There’s only Louis van Gaal since Sir Alex Ferguson that’s been able to implement a style of play at the club. Since Louis van Gaal I don’t think I’ve seen a pattern of play established, and that’s probably seven or eight years now.
‘I’ve seen the same type of football, irrespective of who the manager is, no manager as been able to settle on a style of play. And it goes something like, counter-attack, moments, maybe dominate against lesser teams at Old Trafford and look like you can play a little bit but don’t kid us because every time you play against a top team you get done, and that’s been seven or eight years.
Ange Postecoglou has been quick to make an impact at Tottenham (AMA/Getty)
‘There’s only Louis van Gaal since Sir Alex Ferguson who’s been able to implement a style of play at the club. Every other manager, whether it be Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, David Moyes was there for a short period, and now Erik ten Hag has been there for 18 months.
‘What really damages the likes of Erik ten Hag and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho, they’ve all spent £300 million, £400m but [Roberto] De Zerbi at Brighton, [Ange] Postecoglou at Spurs, and others like them have come in and in three to four months they’ve got them playing like Real Madrid.
‘That’s the problem they’ve got. It’s been shown that you can come in and have an impact on players, patterns of play, style, in three to four months.
‘We are still sat here eight years after Louis van Gaal leaves and haven’t seen a pattern of play, a combination that you see repeatedly.’
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