Manchester United coach Steve McClaren details Erik ten Hag's biggest strength

29.07.2022 - 17:21 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Steve McClaren believes Erik ten Hag's greatest strength as a manager is his ability to read how a game is going and make changes quickly.

The former United assistant manager is back at Old Trafford this summer, having been appointed assistant coach to Ten Hag.

The pair worked together at FC Twente more than a decade ago, when McClaren was in charge and Ten Hag was his No. 2 and a young coach looking to make his way in the game.

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When the 52-year-old was hired by United this summer, moving from Ajax, he wanted to bring McClaren with him and Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant manager has been heavily involved in training during pre-season.

McClaren was impressed with Ten Hag during their year together at FC Twente and he's again noticed how good he is at reading a game this summer.

“His one great strength I always found when I first worked with him: he knew football," McClaren told the United website.

“He could read the football match, he could see things happening on the field and he’s so used to how he wants this team to play that he can spot changes that need to be made very, very quickly.

“I noticed that when I first worked with him, and I’m noticing that now. That’s his strength.”

Ten Hag has taken charge of sessions during his first pre-season at United and he is a manager who likes to play a leading role during training.

He is also prominent in the technical area during games, but he has leaned on McClaren and fellow assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag.

“That’s how he works with the staff on and off the field: he delegates a lot. He tells you what your job is and he expects you to do it,” said McClaren.

“If you’re not doing it, then he’ll tell you that you’re not