Ruud Gullit warns Erik ten Hag he’ll have to adapt to succeed at Manchester United – The Athletic

Football legend Ruud Gullit has warned Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag that he will need to adapt quickly to English football if he is to succeed at the club. 

Ten Hag joined United earlier this summer and made a promising start to life at Old Trafford with a string of good performances in pre-season. 

However, Ten Hag and United lost their opening game of the Premier League season to Brighton at Old Trafford, which has led to a surge in criticism. 

Gullit, who captained the Netherlands to the 1988 European Championship, says that while fellow Dutchman Ten Hag has qualities as a manager, he will have to change to make United win again. 

He said in an interview with Laureus: “I think Ten Hag is a good coach, but if you come with a Dutch mentality only to come to England, it’s difficult. 

“You have to adapt yourself. You have to understand that you don’t win games only with football, you need power as well.  You need power, you need technique, you need stamina, you need the right mentality.

“If you see also, in midfield, you know, you need players who can play. Who can play and who can work, who will get the balls off the opposition. 

“If you don’t, if you only want to play, it’s difficult and you see it first game in the Premier League, Liverpool against Fulham. Fulham made it difficult for Liverpool, really difficult. That’s why we love the Premier League. There’s no easy games and that is where you need to understand, you need to work every day, you need to work. Then, you have to have the right players also to do so.”

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Gullit was also asked about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo after his intentions to leave Old Trafford were made clear in the summer transfer window. 

The Athletic reported in July that Ronaldo reiterated his desire to leave United when he returned to first-team training, but the club insist he isn’t for sale. 

Former AC Milan and Chelsea player Gullit feels that the Portugal international is “on a mission,” believing he feels that he regrets returning to the club he first joined in 2003.

“I think that Ronaldo is eager to show the world how good he is (at the World Cup in Qatar),” Gullit said when asked about his thoughts on Ronaldo.

“That’s my feeling. This guy has unbelievable mental strength. Difficult situation. 

“I think that he regrets the fact that he came back to Man United. He doesn’t say it, but I think he does because of the team that was there. I think he hoped that it was better. 

He wants to show everybody who criticised him at Man United to show them what he’s worth. I think he’s on a mission, that guy.”

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(Photo: Laureus)