‘There is constant pressure on the team, that is not easy.’
Erik ten Hag has been told to avoid the Manchester United job by Ruud Gullit because of the scrutiny he’ll be under from club legends such as Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand.
The 52-year-old Dutchman is the favourite to succeed interim boss Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford, and the Ajax manager is thought to be keen on making the switch to the Red Devils.
United look increasingly likely to miss out on a Champions League spot at the end of the season, with their most recent outing seeing them fall to a 1-0 defeat away at relegation-threatened Everton.
Ten Hag favourite for Old Trafford job
While Ten Hag is rumoured to be excited at the prospect of becoming the Red Devils’ new manager, he has received some words of advice from his fellow countryman Gullit.
The former Chelsea man made reference to ex-United greats Neville and Ferdinand as reasons why Ten Hag should be wary of the kind of pressure he will be taking on if he becomes the club’s new manager.
🚨🎙• Ruud Gullit on Ten Hag: “He has to be given the time, but I don’t know if you get the time at Manchester United. The former footballers are constantly raking, you get it on your plate all the time and you have to be able to handle that.” #MUFC 🔴🇳🇱
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) April 10, 2022
Speaking to Ziggo Sport, Gullit said: “Is it the right choice? That remains to be seen. They want to play the football he plays, but it will be a really terrible job.
“There are all these former players in the TV studios: Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes… There is constant pressure on the team, that is not easy. Know what to expect, it’s a huge job. He also has to be given the time, but I don’t know if you get the time at Manchester United
‘The former players are constantly talking’ – Gullit.
Gullit also appeared to bemoan the fact that several United legends analyse every detail of their former side’s situation.
“The former players are constantly talking, you have a lot of things on your plate and you have to be able to handle that,” he added.
“I would like it if a Dutch trainer is successful there, because things are not going so well in Europe.”
Rangnick’s appointment questioned by Gullit
United’s decision to appoint an interim manager confused Gullit and left him confused as to whether the German will have any kind of say in the next manager.
He said: “It is strange that you appoint a temporary coach who will later help determine the choice of a new manager.
“He’s going to be a consultant now, isn’t that weird?”
The Red Devils host Norwich City in their next Premier League match, hoping to close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
