Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has granted a lengthy interview to Dutch newspaper AD, and towards the beginning was asked about Arne Slot moving to Liverpool.
For the Dutch media it’s obviously a huge deal to have two compatriots managing arguably the two biggest clubs in English football, and they’re both going to be asked about the other continually.
Asked about facing Slot in what AD describe as the ‘largest competition in the world’, the Manchester United manager said: “We’ve played against each other before, of course, but I think that’s really great. Also for Dutch football, for our coach training. I think the fact that there are now two Dutch managers at the helm at Liverpool and Manchester United is fantastic for our football.”
Ten Hag was then asked if the pair have been in touch, and surprisingly they haven’t, but as part of his answer he explained why he thinks Slot will fit in well at Anfield: “No, we haven’t had contact yet, but that will happen. It is fantastic what Arne has achieved at Feyenoord, how he has helped that club get back on track. And the football that Liverpool prefers to play also suits Arne Slot completely. I think it’s a very good match.”
The Manchester United manager went on to insinuate that Slot is arriving at a club in a far better position than Manchester United was at when he moved to Old Trafford.
Structures off the pitch are in place and there’s a winning attitude around the place, fostered largely by Jurgen Klopp’s successful tenure.
Ten Hag now continues to try and emulate that.
