Manchester United's former manager Erik ten Hag
Manchester United's former manager Erik ten Hag
Former Chelsea boss Gus Hiddink believes Erik Ten Hag took many coaches he was close with to Old Trafford which resulted in his downfall. The Reds parted company with the Dutch head coach last month after United made their worst start to a Premier League campaign in the club's history.
Ten Hag was followed by first-team coach Steve McClaren, Benni McCarthy and Richard Hartis to Old Trafford before all three left the club throughout the Dutchman's United reign. Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to Untied as assistant manager this summer, before becoming interim boss when Ten Hag was sacked.
Hiddink believes the outgoing Reds boss struggled to integrate into the United culture and left himself 'isolated' by bringing too many confidants with him to Old Trafford. Ten Hag was sacked after United's 2-1 defeat to West Ham United - their fourth of the campaign.
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Hiddink, who won the FA Cup during a stint in charge of Chelsea, told Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur: "Everyone does it in their own way, but I was surprised at how many confidants Erik gathered around him.
"Then you end up on an island, which makes it more difficult to integrate into the culture of your new club and is watched with suspicion. I always took one assistant abroad with me, with whom I could map out things in the field of football.
"I therefore opted for local trainers and supervisors. People who knew the club or the country well. You play a role in how you are judged. Sometimes approach it with a wink. I mean, we are talking about football, not about war and peace.
"You should not respond to force that comes your way with force. Then it will explode somewhere."