In a recent media interview, former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Muellensteen gave an in-depth analysis of the work of current Manchester United manager Jens Ten Hagar, pointing out the team's current problems as well as the direction of improvement. Mullensteen, a Dutch compatriot of Ten Hagar, sympathized with the young coach's situation and shared his views on the current state of Manchester United.
Mullensteen began by mentioning the dilemma that Ten Hagar faces at Manchester United. He pointed out that despite his remarkable success at Ajax, there were huge differences between United and Ajax in terms of player composition and tactical style, which made it difficult for Ten Hag to replicate the style of play he had at Ajax at United. According to Mullensteen, United were too passive in defense, lacking the courage to defend high and press the opponent, which led to the team conceding goals frequently in the game.
In addition, Mullensteen criticized the United players for their lack of ball control. He pointed out that the players' lack of understanding of the purpose of possession led to a slow and unthreatening attack. Mullensteen emphasized that ball control should have a clear purpose, whether it is to create attacking opportunities through overloading the team, or to break through the opponent's defense directly in search of a goal. He misses the fast, direct and threatening style of play of United in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and believes that United needs to make changes in this regard.
Speaking on the rise of young midfielder Menu, Mullensteen acknowledged but also pointed out his inexperience. According to Mullensteen, Menu's inexperience and limited ability to read the game when paired with Casemiro led to gaps in the defensive end of the team. He advised Ten Hagar to focus on improving his young players' game experience and tactical literacy while developing them.
Finally, Mullensteen expressed his expectation for the future of Manchester United. He believes that if United can solve the current problems, reshape the team's style of play, and strengthen the tacit understanding and cooperation between players, then they have a chance to return to the peak level they once had. Mullensteen's comments certainly provide valuable advice and direction for Ten Hagar and United, and make us look forward to the future of Manchester United.
