'Man Utd made mistake replacing Ferguson - there were three better options'
As Manchester United’s first-team coach, Rene Meulensteen worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson.
He also helped Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Co turn talent into trophies. It is fair to say that the Dutchman has strong opinions about United’s fall from grace in the 10 years since he left the club in the aftermath of Ferguson’s retirement – and the job that Erik ten Hag is doing.
Meulensteen said: “I always thought Sir Alex should have played a bigger part in the transition period so that the club could continue using his blueprint. He should have been phased out over 18 months rather than replaced overnight.
“When United decided to recruit a new manager from the outside it was important they found someone who was capable of working for such a unique club – and the problem was that there weren’t too many people around. Pep Guardiola was one; Jurgen Klopp was another. Carlo Ancelotti would have been a good shout.
“Obviously David Moyes was given the job – and it just didn’t work out. That isn’t a criticism of David. He is a very capable manager. But he made too many changes and ended up stripping the club of the continuity and stability that was needed.
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“What we’ve seen at United since then is a policy of hire and fire. Ten Hag did a good job in his first season. He won a trophy, qualified for the Champions League and reached the FA Cup Final. But for a club like United that isn’t what the fans would call success.
"This club is about challenging for the Premier League – and winning it. It’s about going deep in the Champions League. That’s the gap that Ten Hag now has to bridge.” Meulensteen arrived at Old Trafford in 2001 to work with the academy and reserve teams.
Rene Meulensteen served as the Scot's assistant (AFP via Getty Images)After a brief spell managing Brondby, he returned in 2007 with United about to embark on an era that brought five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and two League Cups in seven seasons.
“It could have easily been six titles in a row,” recalled Meulensteen, who has written a book about his time at the club called United, Sir Alex and Me. “We lost one title race by a point and another on goal difference. Sir Alex once showed me a flip chart that outlined United’s DNA.
“When it came to attacking, he wanted pace, power, penetration and unpredictability. But there was another part of his philosophy that saw, ‘When what we believe in isn’t working, that’s when we gamble’. First and foremost, Sir Alex was all about winning. That’s why he loved the 1-0 wins as much as the 5-0 wins.
David Moyes was the man who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson (AFP/Getty Images)“He always knew that the manager of Manchester United had an obligation to entertain, but when it wasn’t our day, then the players were expected to roll their sleeves up and graft.” On their travels last season, the Reds conceded six goals at Manchester City and seven at Liverpool. They also lost at Arsenal, who they visit today, and Newcastle.
Meulensteen said: “Ten Hag will know that United can’t be beaten so badly by their biggest rivals. It is about a lack of mental strength and resilience. These are the games when you need a backbone and players with big personalities. United still have too many emotional players who, when things aren’t going for them, will throw the dummy out of the pram.”
Meulensteen, who is now assistant coach of the Australia team that reached the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar last year, added: “Every manager needs at least 18 months to put their fingerprint on a team. Look at Guardiola at City. They didn’t do much in his first season. Klopp was exactly the same at Liverpool.
“Mikel Arteta was given a tough time at Arsenal and some fans were up in arms about him. I would hope Ten Hag’s United team will really start to emerge around Christmas. The problem he’s got is that the demands of the modern game aren’t always understood by emotional owners.”
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