Siddharth Juyal
Daley Blind believes Erik ten Hag can return Manchester United to former glory
Former Manchester United defender Daley Blind spoke to The Athletic to express his belief in United manager Erik ten Hag’s capability to turn the club into a machine.
Blind made 141 appearances for the Red Devils while contributing to six goals and 10 assists. The Dutch international returned to Eredivisie club Ajax after his spell with the English giants.
Ten Hag was Ajax’s manager and the 33-year-old played a pivotal role during his reign at Johan Cruyff Arena. Blind signed a two-year contract with La Liga’s club Girona during the summer transfer window.
Blind told the Athletic about Ten Hag’s tactical ability and honesty towards his players. He said:
“He is tactically so clear in what he wants and it’s easy for players to follow that. If you leave things open, there’s a space for doubt. We became like a machine, better and better. In time, he can do that for United. He’s a great manager, great personality.
He’s direct, honest, and tells you what he sees. He’s not afraid to make big decisions. If you don’t like it, you can go another way because his train goes on.”
Ten Hag enjoyed a lot of success at Ajax after joining the Dutch giant from another Eredivisie club Utrecht.
The Dutchman won Eredivisie three consecutive times, the KNVB Cup two times and the Johan Cruyff Shield as well.
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup with United in his first season at the club, ending the six-year trophy drought for United. The 53-year-old guided the Red Devils back to Champions League football after finishing 3rd in the 2022-23 Premier League table.
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Ten Hag has earned the faith of United fans and pundits with his strong leadership and direct approach. The Dutchman is currently navigating the club in the midst of off-field controversies and an injury crisis.
United have registered two wins in a row after having a poor start to the season. We believe that the return of some crucial first-team players will help the manager get through what some were too quick to consider a time of ‘crisis’.
