Erik ten Hag, the current manager of Manchester United, has recently conveyed his dissatisfaction with Gareth Southgate’s approach during England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 campaign opener. Despite recognizing the similarity of Southgate’s tactics to those utilized by his own team, Ten Hag opined that the decision of the England manager to compact the team and rely on moments for the remaining minutes of the game was not commendable. In a post-match interview with Dutch television channel NOS, Ten Hag unequivocally expressed his lack of approval of Southgate’s vision for the game.
While there is a compelling argument that Ten Hag was essentially elucidating the tactics of his own team, his comments have emerged at a time when he has been reconfirmed in his role as manager of Manchester United. Amid speculations that his last match in charge would be the FA Cup final, the club will now be engaging in discussions with him over a new contract, following a comprehensive club review. Ten Hag disclosed that the club had also deliberated with former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement, but ultimately concluded that he was the most suitable candidate for the position.
Furthermore, Ten Hag conveyed his belief that United’s left-back, Luke Shaw, will be fit to return for England in the knockout stages. This affirmation will undoubtedly be welcomed by England fans and the team itself.
The future appears bright for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, and his astute observations regarding England’s match against Serbia have only served to further solidify his authority. It will be intriguing to observe how his remarks will impact discussions about tactics and management in the footballing world.