Erik ten Hag has opened up on his decision to join Manchester United and has called the role ‘a difficult, but fantastic challenge’.
Ten Hag has agreed a deal to take over at Manchester United this summer, with the Dutchman having emerged as the club’s leading target after his success at Ajax.
The 52-year-old secured a third consecutive Eredivisie title with the Dutch side this season and has now opened up on his decision to leave Ajax for the Premier League.
Ten Hag has insisted he would not have taken the role without assurances over the club’s future and says he is relishing the challenge of returning ‘a big name in the history of football’ back to former glories.
“Despite it [United] being a beautiful club, I would never just start,” Ten Hag told Voetbal International. “I wanted to create good working conditions first, so every detail had to be taken care of. I know United went through a very precise procedure. They’d done scouting, analyses, data, interviews with people who worked with me. Then we held multiple interviews.
“They didn’t rush into things and neither did I. It felt like a difficult, but fantastic challenge. At United, there’s something to build and something to win. Manchester United is such a big name in the history of football.
“It’s not for nothing they call Old Trafford the Theatre of Dreams. It’s a club with allure in international football. Everyone knows their history. Of Sir Alex [Ferguson], of course, but further back in time as well. Their great team in the late 50s, that suddenly disappeared after the plane crash. The history is impressive, but I’ve also researched the present and future and the possibilities.
“Those exist, financially as well. If you then get a good feeling about the people that are there, then all the factors are in play to take this step.”
