Manchester United outcast backed to thrive under Erik ten Hag | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag, the current Ajax manager, is set to take over at Old Trafford this summer and wholesale changes are expected to the squad. Manchester United have endured a torrid campaign and the 4-0 defeat at Brighton earlier this weekend confirmed a record-low finish in terms of points tally.

Ten Hag is still chasing a third consecutive Eredivisie title but could secure that honour as early as next week, meaning that focus will soon shift towards turning United’s fortunes around.

Manchester United’s outcast midfielder Donny van de Beek has now been backed to thrive under Ten Hag next season, having enjoyed his best football under the Dutchman during their time together in Amsterdam.

Van de Beek is currently out on loan at Frank Lampard’s Everton and despite starting the six-month spell on Merseyside well, injuries have hampered his progression and he has only featured once since March.

Former Ajax star Leon Gergsma has now backed the 25-year-old, who did not start a single game under either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick in the league this season, to resurrect his career under Ten Hag.

“He now has an unfortunate loan spell at Everton because of his injuries,” he told Ajax Showtime, via Sport Witness. “The fact that a Dutch coach comes, with whom you have already had a pleasant cooperation, is for him the most positive thing that could happen.

“I expect that he will get more opportunities, although he will have to force them himself, of course.”

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SN’s verdict… Ten Hag has a huge rebuilding job on his hands and having someone who understands his football at the club may be a bigger help than people realise.

Van de Beek was crucial to Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-final in 2019 and Ten Hag’s appointment was probably best received by him.

United’s big-money signings have failed to deliver and if Ten Hag deems Van de Beek to be part of the solution to United’s neverending issues, then supporters would get behind that decision. In truth, the Dutch international has been unfairly treated for far too long.