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Erik ten Hag touched down at Manchester United in the summer of 2022 as one of the most promising young coaches in the game, handed the daunting challenge of rebuilding a squad whose downfall had been nothing short of staggering.
His two seasons in charge were far from straightforward. The Dutchman lifted two pieces of silverware, clashed with Cristiano Ronaldo, and presided over some of the most questionable transfer decisions in the club's history. So when he sat down with The Athletic to shed light on his time at the club, it was hardly a shock that he had a great deal to share.
Here are five major takeaways from the interview.
The 'Broken Promises' Before His Exit
Ten Hag's exit from United was a farce, the kind you might expect to see played out on a stage.
A widely-discussed end-of-season review into his future saw United hold talks with several high-profile candidates before not only sticking with Ten Hag, but handing him a contract extension. Just three months later, he was shown the door.
"I wouldn't continue with only one year remaining," Ten Hag reflected. "So I said, 'I need an additional year and we have to move forward together.' They promised me loyalty, they promised me support, they promised communication, that we'd be aligned. We discussed the problems. But the promises, they didn't honor them."
Among the most significant broken pledges to Ten Hag was the sale of homegrown midfielder Scott McTominay.
Only Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Højlund netted more goals for United in 2023–24 than the Scotland international, whom Ten Hag claims he was guaranteed would stay at Old Trafford just weeks before he was shipped off to Napoli.
"That's why I felt let down," the manager explained. "In Ibiza, we reached an agreement. I said, 'No selling Scott McTominay.' We would move in unison during the transfer window.
"I made my case, gave my reasoning: we lack goal-scoring options. Scott provides that and brings tremendous mentality. He has United running through his blood. So when they raised the topic, I said 'No.' And in the end they sold him. I was, of course, deeply embarrassed and disappointed."
Man Utd 'Fuel' Toxic Culture
Back in April 2022, as the club awaited Ten Hag's arrival, caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick argued that United required "open heart surgery," insisting that everyone at Old Trafford needed to unite and confront a toxic culture that had been left to fester.
The very same problem Rangnick had cautioned against resurfaced during Ten Hag's reign and played a significant role in the tenure of his successor, Ruben Amorim. There is even an argument to be made that it persists to this day.
According to Ten Hag, United themselves are to blame for allowing this culture to persist.
"Players have to act, they carry a huge responsibility. Football is, for some, not the top priority. And United for some wasn't the top priority."
Ten Hag then addressed what he called the "Madrid connection," referring to a string of signings of former Real Madrid stars. Raphaël Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo were already at United when Ten Hag arrived, and Casemiro followed the pair in the summer of 2022.
The Dutchman accused the trio of adding to the dysfunction at United, with egos shaped by years of competing at the very highest level.
"I can say I think that's what the Madrid connection introduced — players who are powerful and want to call the shots," he said. "In my view, it didn't fit the stage United was at.
"The leadership wanted attacking, dynamic football and these players wanted to play what suited themselves."
Cristiano Ronaldo 'Let the Team Down'
Perhaps the most enduring memory of Ten Hag's United tenure was his falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the Dutchman's decision to bench the forward that triggered that explosive interview and his eventual departure late in 2022.
It is not a decision Ten Hag looks back on with regret.
"He let the team down, and he let me down, because we had planned around him," the boss emphasized. "I flew to Portugal to speak with him about my vision before I even joined United. Obviously, he's one of the greatest in football history. I had enormous respect for him. But at that point, as a manager, I had to make a rational call and keep the players I believed in."
Ten Hag admitted he "confronted" Ronaldo with claims that he was skipping training sessions and not putting in sufficient effort when he did show up, as well as the fact that he completed only two of the three laps Ten Hag had the entire squad run as a consequence of their 4–0 thrashing by Brentford in August that year.
"Many times I said, 'Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to get you into the right position, but if you can't get yourself into the box, you can't score,'" he recalled. "He was not able to do this.
"It's a misconception to suggest I expected him to press — that he was worn out. But he couldn't. He didn't run with or without the ball. The reason was because he hadn't prepared himself properly.
"Every top team must embrace its star player, but the star player must work for the team.
"He was telling players, 'Save your legs in training.' I understand that when you're in peak condition; you can manage your workload. But first you have to train yourself to reach the right fitness levels."
The Big Missed Signings
The recruitment during the Ten Hag era undeniably left a lot to be desired.
Much has been said about his tendency to pursue players he was familiar with — fellow Dutchmen or those from the Eredivisie — and it is well known that Ten Hag failed to land his primary target, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
"I did everything I could; I arranged meetings with [De Jong], with Richard [Arnold, chief executive] and John [Murtough, director of football] also involved, to convince him to make the move," Ten Hag said of De Jong. "He could have been hugely important in building the team, not just that season but going forward. But we couldn't make it happen."
De Jong was not the only player United failed to secure from Ten Hag's wish list. Midfielder Declan Rice, then at West Ham United and now at Arsenal, was near the top of his priorities alongside striker Harry Kane, who made the move to Bayern Munich from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023.
"The problem was that West Ham didn't want to release [Rice]," Ten Hag recalled. "I think we could have pushed harder to test their resolve. We were on the same page, they tried, but I'm not sure how the process unfolded. The bottom line is, at United you need elite players.
"I pushed hard for [Kane]. I heard he was very keen, but I never spoke with him directly about it. I don't know how the decision-making process went with John, Richard, the Glazers."
Had United managed to bring in any of these marquee targets, Ten Hag believes the club would have quickly found itself on a far more promising path.
"I think a club like United needs these types of profiles to be successful," he stressed. "Personality, maturity, and accountability. We signed five, six young players with high potential. But they aren't the finished article. They need guidance from seasoned professionals, like Kane, Rice and Bruno [Fernandes]."
His Love for Man Utd Remains
Ten Hag could be forgiven for holding a grudge against United, a club where his reputation as perhaps the most exciting young manager in the game was severely damaged. Yet somehow, his affection for the club remains undiminished.
"I cherished every moment at Manchester United; I carry such wonderful memories," Ten Hag admitted. "I feel a deep connection; I'm a supporter at heart. It's an incredible fanbase; they always treated me with respect.
"I genuinely want United to win. I want them to be successful again. I want the club to return to where it once belonged."