Matthijs de Ligt has revealed the main difference he's spotted with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United compared to his time at Ajax.
The Netherlands defender joined United from Bayern Munich this summer and so far has had a fairly indifferent start by all accounts.
While he has shown glimpses of a potentially promising partnership with fellow centre-back Lisandro Martinez, De Ligt would have been hoping for a better start to life at Old Trafford.
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The Dutch, and particularly Ajax, connection runs through United's ranks with De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Martinez, Andre Onana, and Christian Eriksen all formerly plying their trade at the Eredivisie outfit.
Ten Hag was the manager of the Amsterdam-based club from 2017 to 2022 before he joined United.
During this period, De Ligt was staking his claim on the side and became a stalwart in the defence despite still being a teenager. This earned him a move to Serie A giants Juventus in 2019, before once again moving on, this time to Bayern in 2022.
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During his tenure at Ajax, Ten Hag led his side to three league titles, with De Ligt a key man in his success.
Ten Hag has enjoyed more trophy success at Old Trafford, winning a Carabao Cup as well as last season's FA Cup.
But the Dutch manager's future now seems to be hanging in the balance after United's slow start to the new season, with assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy one of the favourites to take the reigns if Ten Hag were to be sacked.
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Speaking to Viaplay, De Ligt was asked whether he still viewed Ten Hag in the same way as he did at Ajax, and the defender gave an answer which may raise eyebrows among supporters.
"Yes, for the most part. But the resilience in the Eredivisie is very different than here in the Premier League," he replied.
"Every club here has a manager at a very high tactical level, and you have to be able to respond to that."
However, back in August, the centre-back credited Ten Hag as the main reason he chose to join the Red Devils.
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Speaking to MUTV, he explained: "Yeah obviously [he was] a really important part because he knows me really well, I know him really well. He made me captain also at Ajax.
"Also at my time at Ajax he gave me a lot of confidence, he gave me a lot of motivation to try to lead the team."
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Man Utd, Matthijs De Ligt, Premier League, Manchester United, Ajax, Eredivisie
Luke Davies