📣 Hopes, vision, history: Erik ten Hag's first interview as Man Utd boss | OneFootball

Manchester United have released the first interview with new head coach Erik ten Hag.

Speaking in-house to MUTV, this is the best of what the man in charge had to say …

On his hopes

“I really look forward to doing this job at this club with massive history and we want to restore it where it belongs. First of all, we want to make the fans proud. Second, of course we are in this moment, the current situation is obviously not that good.

“It’s a big challenge. I want to build and construct a team who are battling for each other, who are unified and who will get results. Also we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams. We want to entertain. But in the end, the intention is to play fantastic football. If we can’t play fantastic football, we still have to win.”

On why he wants to start so quickly

Ten Hag will not take a summer break and begins his role immediately after leaving Ajax

“Before a season, you have to prepare and when you are in a club, I will say it’s a continual process. You’re working on next season and still you are in the current season.

“But we didn’t have that time and now we close the season and I;m coming over to meet people and to roll out the strategy, to prepare pre-season, prepare staff and prepare a squad.”

On his long and short-term vision

“Firstly, we must accept the current situation but also know that one year ago, this club, this team was second in the Premier League. There’s potential and now it’s up to us to get that out. It’s a process, it will take time but I’m convinced we will come to that point where we get success.

“We have to work hard and it has to be based on the right philosophy and strategy. In terms of the short term, first, we have a break. We will start pre-season on June 27 and I will get a few of the squad, [a few] of the individual players. In certain positions we want to renew the squad but as I said, one year ago, this squad was second in the league, so there is potential and I’m really looking forward to co-operating with the squad.”

On respecting club’s history

“I know the history of Manchester United, I know the big times and the audience, the vibe that can be around Old Trafford. I watched them in their big times, when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager, during the really successful times when they won titles and were dominating Europe.

“But also before Sir Alex, Man United was a really big club and I know names like [Matt] Busby and [Bobby] Charlton that gave Man United a presence to the outside world from winning, and winning in a spectacular way, winning so they entertain people. What stays with me is there was always a fighting culture. They fight together and they get success.”

On Ajax preparing him well for managing a big club

“I think that’s the comparison. I have been in Bayern Munich, I have been in Ajax and now I come to Man United. I know our opponents are highly motivated, they are over-motivated to beat Man United and we have to be ready for that.

“To go and win that battle. Even if they are over-motivated, we have to be more. We always have to be more willing to win the game than the opponent.

“We are playing in the Theatre of Dreams and have to entertain the opponent. We are playing in the opponent’s half and we have to do attacking football. We have to do the pressing, the total high-pressing, that is a similarity also, and the adventurous football. Also Ajax has that history of bringing young talents into the first team.”