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Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
Ruud Gullit has blasted Erik ten Hag and believes he 'underestimated' the task at Manchester United. Ten Hag was appointed as United's new head coach in May 2022 following a disappointing sixth-place finish.
During his first transfer window, Ten Hag dipped into the Dutch market and signed several players from his native Netherlands, with Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Tyrell Malacia arriving from Eredivisie. Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were among the others to sign for United.
Ten Hag was successful throughout his maiden season at Old Trafford, helping United to a third-place finish, winning the Carabao Cup, and reaching the FA Cup final. He brought the feel-good factor back to the club, even if there were still cracks in performances, albeit some impressive results.
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However, his fortunes started to fall apart last season as United started to struggle. They were knocked out of the Champions League at the group phase, suffered an early exit from the Carabao Cup and finished down in eighth in the Premier League. But it was a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup that saved Ten Hag's job.
He managed to sign an extension to his United contract, but lasted just three months into this season before he was axed. And now, former Chelsea midfielder Gullit has explained why he felt Ten Hag was doomed at the start - and he believes that was because he signed players - such as Antony and Martinez - from Ajax.
"The biggest mistake he made and we warned him: don't take players from Ajax to the Premier League," Gullit told beIN Sports. "It's not the same. What does he do? He does the same.
"[Louis] Van Gaal did the same thing, he brought [Memphis] Depay and he didn't do the same thing. He (Ten Hag) brought Malacia in and he hasn't contributed in the Premier League.
"I get it, you are used to seeing these players every day, you know them and you think they can do this as well. But that is not the case when you go to the Premier League, it's a different way, it's faster, there's more intensity. So therefore it's difficult and we warned him and said 'don't do it'. He did it again and here you go. It's a pity.
"I still think that Ten Hag is a good coach but I think he underestimated the task at Manchester United."
Although Martinez has not been perfect, he has been one of Ten Hag's most successful transfers following his £57million move from Ajax in 2022. The 26-year-old has since played 79 matches for United and started their 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest under Ruben Amorim on Saturday.
Antony, meanwhile, showed promise in his first season at United after arriving for £86m from Ajax, but he has since flopped. In fact, the Brazilian has scored just four goals and added two assists in 45 matches in all competitions. Considering the fee United paid for him, the 24-year-old has failed to impress.
Malacia was the third player Ten Hag signed direct from the Netherlands in his first window at the club. The left-back made 39 appearances in all competitions in his debut season at Old Trafford but didn't play at all during the following season after suffering a serious knee injury. He has only just returned.
Gullit may not have been impressed with the Dutch-based players United have signed, but there are a couple that have excelled in the Premier League. Jurrien Timber, who joined Arsenal from Ajax in 2023, has settled into life in England well, while Cody Gakpo has done the same at Liverpool.