25 February 2023 , 22:30
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Tyrell Malacia has revealed that Erik ten Hag is a Manchester United nut who is obsessed with bringing the glory days back to Old Trafford.
Malacia, the Dutch full-back who became Ten Hag’s first signing for the Reds last summer, has lifted the lid on how the boss has been working nights as he strains to resurrect a club that has gone six years without a trophy. United’s players have been stunned by their manager’s attention to detail - and his willingness to go without sleep so that his squad is perfectly prepared.
Malacia said: “When we have an away match, no matter how many hours it takes to come back to Manchester and we arrive in the middle of the night, everyone goes straight home. Everyone, that is, apart from the manager.
“The gaffer often goes to his office at the club to see the videos of the match we have just played so he can prepare and have his analysis ready for us the next morning at the training ground. Erik ten Hag is so obsessed with the job of manager. He absolutely loves the game.
“He is always working, from morning till night. Every player at United will tell you that every part of our game is detailed by our manager. It is all spot-on - and this is how he is developing the team every single day.”
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United will be looking to end their trophy drought when they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Malacia, who was signed from Feyenoord in a £14million deal last July, is loving life at United.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 05: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United talks with Manager Erik ten Hag after signing his contract with the club at Carrington Training Ground on July 05, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images) (Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)He has helped Ten Hag create a strong dressing room spirit with his enthusiasm and zest for life. Malacia added: “I like to create a great atmosphere.
“I think I am known for that among the players here and also at my old club. Everyone can always laugh at me. I like to bring good vibes in the dressing room - that is so important.”
Ten Hag’s huge impact in Manchester has not gone unnoticed in his native Netherlands. Dutch tycoon Frans van Seumeren, the multi-millionaire who gave Ten Hag his first big break when he appointed him coach of FC Utrecht in 2015, always knew that the 53-year-old was destined for great things.
Van Seumeren said: “Ten Hag is the best manager I have ever seen at my club. We’ve since had some very decent coaches, but Erik laid all the foundations for the step up to the higher levels of the game.
“It hurt me so much when he left our club, but it could not be stopped. He was on his way to bigger things. I had heard good things about him while he was working for the second team at Bayern Munich.
“So we organised a meeting and after less than an hour I turned round to my sporting director and said ‘he’s got the job, we need this guy. He’s a top manager and will raise our club’.”