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Transcript of interview

Erik, welcome to Manchester United. How do you feel about starting this new chapter in your career?

“I would say the word 'exciting'. I really look forward to doing this job, at this club with massive history, and we want to restore it where it belongs.”

What excites you most about this opportunity of managing this club?

“I think many [reasons]. First of all, we want to make the fans proud. Second, of course we are in this moment, the current situation is obviously not that good. It’s a big challenge. I want to build and construct a team who are battling for each other, who are unified and who will get results. Also we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams. We want to entertain. But in the end, the intention is to play fantastic football. If we can’t play fantastic football, we still have to win.”

It was only last week your last game at Ajax, and you’re already here in England. What made you want to come so quickly? You didn’t take a break, you literally came straight after finishing with Ajax…

“Before a season, you have to prepare and when you are in a club, I will say it’s a continual process. You’re working on next season and still you are in the current season. But we didn’t have that time now, and now we close the season and I’m coming over to meet people and to roll out the strategy, to prepare pre-season, prepare staff and prepare a squad.”

There was a lot of people who really liked your long-term vision for this football club. What can you share with us about what you see in the future for Manchester United?

“It’s first: accept the current situation but also know one year ago, this club, this team was second in the Premier League. There’s potential and now it’s up to us to get that out. It’s a process, it will take time but I’m convinced we will come to that point where we get success. We have to work hard and it has to be based on the right philosophy and strategy.”

In terms of the short term, then, what are you seeing happening in the next few weeks?

“First, we have a break. We will start pre-season on 27 June and I will get a few of the squad, [a few] of the individual players. In certain positions we want to renew the squad, but as I said, one year ago, this squad was second in the league, so there is potential and I’m really looking forward to co-operating with the squad.”

Well speaking of the players then, how much are you looking forward to getting to know them and working with them closely as well?

“That is really exciting. Also for me, of course, it’s new. I was at Ajax for a long time: four-and-a-half years. We had a great time, but now it’s a new start also for me and we have to build it up from the bottom, on zero. I have to build, starting a new relationship with the squad, with my players.”

How important is it, then, for the players to make sure they impress you over the summer and to get the best out of the squad that you’ve got?

“That is what I expect. I have high expectations from myself and that is also what I demand from my squad. They have to co-operate together and they have to give every day their best. And I would say, for me, good is not good enough. We have to do better.”

In terms of a couple of the players, we’ve got a few players who used to be at Manchester United who have links to Ajax. One is Edwin van der Sar, who is a United legend and also an Ajax legend. What have you said with him about joining Manchester United?

“Yeah, we had some conversations about it. Actually, he was the first one I told that I’d be leaving Ajax and would go to Manchester United. I think in his emotion he’s still Manchester United. He’s a fan: he’s the biggest fan, maybe yeah? Especially in Ajax. But he has to lead Ajax in this moment and I’m sure he will always support Manchester United and he will support me, as long as we are not playing against Ajax.”

It could happen though, couldn’t it?

“I hope [so], because that will tell us we are in the Champions League! We have to return as quickly as possible to that competition.”

There’s been a long line of former Dutch players and managers here. How excited are you to continue that legacy at this club?

“Yeah, I have to do my best and I will give everything, every day. Every day I will go to the maximum that I have, so hopefully I can continue that legacy.”

Manchester United is a club with such rich history. Are you looking forward to learning more about that when you go to Old Trafford and the training complex and just seeing how it all works there?

“Of course. I know the history of Man United, I know the big times and the audience, the vibe that can be around Old Trafford. I watched them in their big times, when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager, during the really successful times when they won titles and were dominating Europe. But also before Sir Alex, Man United was a really big club and I know names like Busby and Charlton that gave Man United a presence to the outside world from winning, and winning in a spectacular way, winning so they entertain people. What stays with me is there was always a fighting culture. They fight together and they get success.”

You’ve never played Man United before, but have you been to a game at Old Trafford?

“No.”

Are you looking forward to going for the first time?

“Of course. I just mentioned the vibe that’s in the stadium. Of course I want to get that experience. The fans behind the ambience at Old Trafford… it would be fabulous and I’m really looking forward to getting that experience.”

What will it be like for you when you first walk out that tunnel and you see those 70,000 fans ready to welcome you to Old Trafford?

“I don’t know! [laughs] We have to wait for that moment. What they can expect is that I will give my best. I will give everything necessary to get Man United back where they belong.”

Was it always an aspiration of yours to manage in the Premier League?

“I’m not a dreamer. I live by the day. I give my best and I make my decisions based on clearness and logic. We need a good concept and we need the right people around. When we give everything we have, every day, then we will get success. Then you see where you end up. Live by the day and focus on titles and don’t dream about other things that can happen in the future.”

One of the things Manchester United is known for is its fanbase and a worldwide fanbase. How excited are you to get to know the fans and for the fans to get to know you as well?

“I’ve been aware of the massive presence and the massive audience around Man United. It’s all over the world, so I’ve been aware, and I will do my best and take responsibility to deliver them the success they need.”

Let us talk about Ajax as it’s still fresh from winning the league a couple of weeks ago. How important was it for you to sign off your season at Ajax by winning the league?

“It’s all about that. It’s all about winning titles. When you start a project, what we did in Ajax, the project was I had to make Ajax Europe-proof, and we wanted to be back on top in Holland. When I started PSV was on top, and we changed it. In the last four years, we were the number one continually. I’m happy and satisfied that we achieved that purpose. It was important also to finish in my last season as number one. There was PSV and also Feyenoord who were huge competitors, but finally we won the battle and I’m very happy about that.”

For you, what was your greatest achievement at Ajax in your four years there?

“It’s difficult to choose as you are continually number one, but our journeys in Europe were magnificent. I really enjoyed it and in my first whole season we achieved a semi-final and I think that was the best performance. I think it was a really good performance because it’s not that easy for a club in Holland, not a big league, to compete with the European top clubs. We did and we had some magnificent results. Finally, we were short before the final but it was a magnificent journey we had and the football we played we really enjoyed it, and I believe also the audience in Europe they enjoyed it.”

Is there a game then in particular that you look back on and feel that is exactly how you wanted your team to play?

“Of course there are, but you never can compare teams. The way we did it – with dominant, dictating football – that is the way I want to act in Man United as well. But finally the competence and the quality of the people – so the players – decide how you have to play.”

Do you find that when teams come to Ajax, when they play Ajax, it’s a little bit like a cup final? When teams come to Old Trafford, they play against Man United, it’s a big occasion. Did you see that as well when you were managing Ajax?

“I think that’s the comparison. I have been in Bayern Munich, I have been in Ajax and now I come to Man United. I know our opponents are highly motivated, they are over-motivated to beat Man United and we have to be ready for that. To go and win that battle. Even if they are over-motivated, we have to be more. We always have to be more willing to win the game than the opponent.”

There are quite a lot of similarities between Ajax and United in the sense of bringing younger players through the system, a commitment to attacking football... there’s a big legacy behind both clubs as well. Did you feel the similarities are there when you [agreed to] join Manchester United?

“Yes. Already in your question before, there is a similarity with opponents being highly motivated but also the attacking football. We are playing in the Theatre of Dreams and have to entertain the opponent. We are playing in the opponent’s half and we have to do attacking football. We have to do the pressing, the total high-pressing – that is a similarity also – and the adventurous football. Also Ajax has that history of bringing young talents into the first team.”

Ajax and United are both teams with very clear identities as clubs, but how important is it for you to bring your footballing philosophy to Manchester United?

“We don’t have to go over my football. It’s about the Man United football and about the Man United identity and philosophy. I think that you pointed it out: it has to be about attacking football. We have to bring structures in the way of playing, so we can play attacking football.”

You described Ajax as a fighting machine. Is that how you want to build this United team as well?

“Always. Everywhere I was in my career, I have high demands on my players. I expect them to fight and give 100 per cent. I already mentioned that only good is good enough. No, not only that – we have to do better and they have to co-operate. They have to be unified, to form a team, and to battle the opponent.”

Amoto94:
La Liga should go and sit down after enjoying monopoly breaking transfer records over a long period of time they're now complaining to UEFA for the thing their clubs initiated. One thing about bad behavior is that you can initiate it but you can't control its growth.

You are still amongst those typing out of ignorance.

NinjaXmetahuman:
small clubs should also write to fa and tell them to sanction all the big clubs in Europe cos they are using their money to steal players from smaller clubs.

Or how is it fair to them?

It seems most of you are ignorant on why la Liga Fa is complaining to Uefa about Psg.

EmmanuelScott1:
their owner is part of the committee in UEFA , difficult imo

Their owner is not part of Uefa. If the rest Fa force fifa and Uefa, decisive actions will be taken.

EmmanuelScott1:
But honestly, PSG need to be investigated, their players wage bill is higher, only messi,. Neymar and mbappe 3 years wages can assemble a full squad with balance remaining

English fa needs to join hand with La Liga. Spanish Fa are the only calling them out for a long time now.

BlueMann:
La Liga reporting PSG to UEFA lol

Different European leagues FA should be the doing the same.

andrewbaba44:
Manchester United let Pogba join juventus for free in 2012 ,Then juve sold him back to united for 105 million euros in 2016 ,he might just return there for free again this 2022

Should I clap for you or what?

Pogba to Juventus is done.

Havertz10:
common ibime, everybody knows that Russia removed dollar from its sovereign wealth fund and had been offloading all its foreign reserves in dollars for years, it has been buying gold, it’s one of the reasons people say that Putin thought about these sanctions prior to the invasion

besides western nation seized more than 300billion in external held reserves from Russia after the invasion, amusingly American did the same thing to Afghanistan took their money and said that they will use it to pay 911 families but that is neither here nor there, gist basically is i’m sure that the screenshot you keep posting is old and assertions that Russians are suffering is misleading

Go and listen to what Russia central bank had to say and Inflation in Russia is already running at 20% and the real sh..it hasn't even arrived.

"Additionally, Russians will have to accept their loss of purchasing power. For the time being, the Central Bank will not attempt to compensate for inflation. “We will not attempt to reduce it in any way, because that would stop companies from adapting. Restoring the supply of imported components is more difficult and expensive, and it will inevitably affect the price of the final product,” she explained."

No Central Bank support, and the "real" value of the ruble being a fraction of what the propped-up price is, is going to result in hyper-inflation that could rival post WW1 Germany.

America’s economy has crashed and it has been crashing for years. The Media just refuses to report on it and a lot of people are trying to desperately hold on to the illusion everything is getting better.

GloryIsaac:
If the report is true, it’s says a lot about the extremely poor quality of football advisors at the club.

Imagine giving a 23yr old who just wants to play football and taste European success such tremendous amount of power. Even Mbappé will be amazed and confused at their desperation.

It's a fake rumor already shut down by various reputable journalist.

Havertz10:
I like him, pains me that he allowed that rodent to get to him, watch as British press will use this issue to attack him and ultimately undermine all the efforts that he has put in this season, I hope that his punishment isn’t severe, he is one man that deserves all his plaudits , not that clueless British pig at Everton

Plaudits for what exactly? He is on track to get only 1 extra point than finished dinosaur Hodgson had last season with a better squad.

Ellexy:
Well to be fair not all. There are some of them that don't reason like that, I think where one is raised helps to shape the mindset and ideology of how one perceives and judges things.

Nevertheless, I understand the sentiments behind what you said, yet it's not accurate.

All Muslims who believe and follow the Quran word for word are potential terrorist and killers. Some are just better at hiding it until the occasion calls for it. The Quran basically calls on Muslims to kill people of other faith as they are infidels.

Havertz10:
cute, because your god doesn’t instill enough conviction in you to fight his battles, you are questioning the convictions of another man’s beliefs

At the end of the day this discussion boils down to the fact that while Christians like to claim that both the Islamic god and their god are the same, you people still have this condescending view of Islamic god and their beliefs

Hence their need to violently remind you guys to remain in your space

Christians and Muslims don't worship the same God. Don't ever make that mistakes ever again. Your deep hatred for Christianity is always clouding your judgement. Atheist are another sect of people with fanatical hatred.

Bombblacks:
Religion of peace my black ass. All Muslims are potential terrorist and killers.

I will say it again. All Muslims are potential terrorist and killers even the educated ones.

patrickmuf:
If this is true then it's sad that info like these is out here...

Erik Ten Hag should be wary of lazy players who want everything their way. I mean, if it was Manchester City or Madrid players who have won a whole lot that are complaining then I can stop to listen but no the bunch of cry babies we parade...

The players are complaining that the coaching has been not up to standard and there was basically no preparation for the Brighton match yet you call them lazy?

ChristoBam:
Maguire
Sanchez
Ronaldo
Di Maria
Falcao
Bastian
Cavani
Pogba
Sancho
Ibra
VDB
On and On.
Obvious signings with the potential to sell more shirts than the ones on the market. Let’s even forget the ones we were not able to sign.

Bro you are just listening names. United doesn't even gain shi..t from Shirt sells. 90% of profits from jersey sells goes to the Kit manufacturers. This narrative Is something I will never understand.

Havertz10:
is that so? how many innocent lives have been lost enabling Israel to steal land from people in the name of god

Or how many generations have been ruined by the neoliberalism of Christian dominated America? Look at Iraq and the rest

You can’t even see your hypocrisy

You are typing more nonsense Sir. Christianity is one of the most peaceful religion in the world.

If the most popular religion in the world was just a little bit more ruthless, Islam and Muslims will hide.

Havertz10:
Christians mocking Muslims like if they aren’t worst than them


I would pick a Muslim over a Christian every day of the week and twice on Sunday

This is nonsense. Christianity is one of the most peaceful religion in the world.

ChristoBam:
Lol you think it's by spending 1b? How was it spent? They go after obvious, marketable assets/players. That Woodward method of operation made us the most marketable football club in the world.

Wait I don't get this narrative. How many marketable players has united bought over the years?

ChristoBam:
It's not. How's a 80m player on wages of 350k a Ten Hag signing? Cuz he played under Ten Hag years ago?

Why else do you think United will be interested in De jong if not for Ten hag?

ChristoBam:
Things will never change. Going after the obvious marketable players.

Marketable how? This is literally a Ten Hagg signing.

donstan18:
True or false?

True or false?

Bombblacks:
Calm down. Your own club has spent 758million since 2017/2018 season with zero league title and not even a 2nd place finish.

donstan18:
At Klop..

Stop being shameless!!!

It’s always club with its other managers, but Pep when it’s mancity.

I have never said anything concerning Pep. Club spend money not coaches.

kushercain:
....

The person I replied was laughing at Liverpool for winning only one league title after spending 800million and I was only showing him Chelsea had a worst record of winning zero league title spending similar amount.

donstan18:
So which manager spent it?

It's clubs that spend money not managers.

drisham:
And man u??

About a billion since then and no spoon to show for it

So you agree both Chelsea and United have spent wastefully?

WhoDeyHause:
Even Spiderman cannot create the number of cobwebs that have existed in your trophy room since 2017.

Did football start in 2017?

donstan18:
Let’s overlook this because his name isn’t Pep.

Calm down. Your own club has spent 758million since 2017/2018 season with zero league title and not even a 2nd place finish.

Religion of peace my black ass. All Muslims are potential terrorist and killers.

KingTom:
Not really, I think he feels so because Ajax are notable for giving youngsters the opportunity to showcase themselves. I agree with him

Ajax give their own youngsters opportunities just like Barca not other clubs loan players to develop for them.