Man Utd legend ‘worried about Ten Hag’ as he names two managers who could implement free-flowing style of play
JAAP STAM is “worried” about Erik ten Hag’s tactics at Manchester United as the club faced a Champions League exit on Tuesday.
The Manchester United legend is confused about the Dutchman’s playing style and points out two Premier League bosses who have delivered the approach he had at Ajax.
United faced a miserable exit from the Champions League on Tuesday night after their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Finishing bottom of Group A Ten Hag has been unable to deliver consistent form this term.
And former Red Devils defender Stam is concerned about the boss who is set to face increased pressure after their disastrous result.
Alongside the clashes, he has faced between players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho – and the media being banned from press conferences.
Stam who won the Treble with United in 1999 told the Stick to Football podcast by Sky Bet: “He has got to be worried and thinking about what’s going to happen now.
“You can ban players, but it’s also about man management of course and how to work with and handle players.
“There was the Cristiano Ronaldo thing, the Jadon Sancho thing, Raphael Varane probably – I don’t know if something’s happened over there.
“There’s the thing with the press now and banning journalists from press conferences. It doesn’t work in your favour as a manager.
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“You need to have peace and quiet… you don’t want to pay too much attention to other things like players and the press.
“You need to fully focus, and I don’t think you want to talk about players or what players think about you as a manager.
“I worry a little bit for him and that’s why it would be good if he gets the results.”
Ten Hag had a successful first term at Old Trafford finishing third in the league and winning the EFL Cup.
But this season and £400million later the Dutchman’s side has regressed.
Compared to his success at Ajax where he won three Eredivisie titles Stam cannot understand why the Man Utd boss has not delivered the same performance at Old Trafford.
The ex-Ajax star even suggested how Spurs’ Ange Postecogolou and Brighton’s Roberto De Zebri have been able to reflect the free-flowing style Ten Hag once had.
He added: “I think he’s a good coach and I’m wondering this myself and we even asked him for ViaPlay – when are we going to see this style of play we saw at Ajax?
“He made a certain comment and he mentioned that he could never play the way he played at Ajax over here.
“I’m surprised because I’ve seen Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou and how they’re playing.”
But things could get worse for the Red Devils before they get better.
Although they sit sixth in the Premier League table, Sunday sees a daunting visit to league frontrunners Liverpool, who thrashed them 7-0 in the same fixture last term.
