Steve McClaren compares Man United target Erik ten Hag to Alex Ferguson

"They called him 'Mini Pep' out there."

Steve McClaren said Erik ten Hag's attention to detail and organisation is reminiscent of Alex Ferguson, as the Dutchman is heavily linked with the Manchester United job. Along with PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, the Ajax boss has emerged as one of the favourites to take over from interim coach Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season. Ten Hag had reportedly been interviewed by Man United with the view to becoming the club's manager for next season.

Steve McClaren on Erik ten Hag's philosophy.

The former Man United assistant manager likened ten Hag's qualities to "the gaffer," alluding to his old boss Ferguson. McClaren praised the Ajax manager for his "clear philosophy" of how he wants to play football and the environment he wants to create. Ten Hag was McClaren's assistant at FC Twente. The 60-year-old said that Ten Hag has taken the developing young players approach from FC Twente, where McClaren won an Eredivisie, and applied it successfully at Ajax. "His great strength lies not just in his attention to detail and organisation. He has a clear philosophy of how he wants to play football; the environment he wants to create," McClaren told The Telegraph. "The player progression programme was a key part of Twente. He has done that at Ajax too, for each player from the academy to the first team. "You look at Hakim Ziyech and now the (Brazilian) striker Antony, a very good player who will be the next one to go. I have seen this Ajax team and it’s very good."

McClaren speaks about ten Hag's coaching ability.

McClaren described the 52-year-old as "very disciplined" and "tactically outstanding." Ten Hag managed Bayern Munich II from 2013 to 2015, where he was described as 'Mini Pep' after working with Pep Guardiola. McClaren is adamant that ten Hag has a lot of potential suitors from Germany and England. The Dutchman has been a great success in Amsterdam. He's won two Eredivisie's with Ajax and reached the Champions League semi-final in 2019. "Erik is very disciplined and people have to buy into that and have that work ethic. Tactically he’s outstanding," McClaren added. "He worked with Pep (Guardiola) at Bayern Munich and took in his philosophy too. They called him 'Mini Pep' out there. "He’s ready. A lot of top clubs in Germany and England will be out to get him." Related links.

• Roy Keane on the key advantage the next Man United manager will have.
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• Gary Neville predicts Liverpool to plummet after Jurgen Klopp leaves.

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