Erik ten Hag has theory on Man Utd stars failing as Jim Ratcliffe inquest begins

07 January 2024 , 22:30

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Erik ten Hag believes nothing beats playing for Manchester United - but only if you can handle the pressure.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group embarking on a mission to discover why United have suffered a decade of underachievement despite blowing more than £1billion in the transfer market, Ten Hag insists that pulling on the famous red shirt remains the pinnacle. But the Dutchman admitted that some players cannot cope with the sheer weight of expectation at Old Trafford.

United are unlikely to spend big in this month's transfer window despite allowing Jason Sancho and Donny van de Beek to leave on loan. But asked whether Ratcliffe will have problems convincing players to sign for United going forward, Ten Hag said: "That is always on those players and how much confidence you have in your capabilities.

"But I can tell you one thing – the Premier League is tough, Man United is tough. It is tough to play there because it's easier to play in almost any other team than Man United because the pressure is that high always.

"You have to deal with that. But if you have confidence in yourself, this is the best challenge - and this is definitely the best club you want to be at as a player. It depends on player to player - and it depends especially on the character of the player, their personality."

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Sancho is moving back to Borussia Dortmund after a spectacular fallout with the United manager in which he accused Ten Hag of not telling the truth when he left the £72millon winger out of his squad in September.

Ten Hag was reluctant to address Sancho's long-term future while the deal is still being sealed. But he was more forthcoming about why Van de Beek has failed to hit the heights in Manchester.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe meets Erik Ten Hag at Carrington (Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)

The Dutch midfielder was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2019 after helping Ten Hag's Ajax with the Eredivisie title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. When he signed for United for £35million during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign in 2020 it was regarded as a major coup because Barcelona also wanted him.

But he has made just 23 starts for the club and has joined Eintracht Frankfurt until the end of the season with the Bundesliga club agreeing to a £10million option to buy after United agreed to continue most of his £125,000-a-week wages.

Ten Hag said: "He (Van de Beek) has had many injuries, first of all. I worked now with him for two years (at United) and before that, he was under different managers here. He had a loan before as well.

"Actually, from the first moment I came in here at Manchester United, he wasn't the player he was at Ajax because he was injured. So many times he was not available and then he struggled for a long time to recover from that injury. That is probably the main reason why he was not playing."

Ten Hag feels Ratcliffe’s decision to spend £1.3billion take a 25 per cent stake in the club is positive news - and that he can work in tandem with INEOS once they begin the process of overhauling the football side of the club.

He added: "From my talks, I had a fantastic feeling afterwards. Their personalities, their ideas, the process they want to go in…so I am very positive about that and I am sure it will be beneficial for Manchester United."

United face League One strugglers in the third round of the FA Cup (tonight) - and it is their only chance of winning a trophy. Rasmus Hojlund will return after missing the defeat at Nottingham Forest, but Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez need more time to build top their fitness after being sidelined with injuries.

Ten Hag said: "It's a cup game, so it's do or die - and I like it. Every opponent is giving more than 100 per cent against Manchester United - but especially this team. We have to be well prepared for the game."