Manchester United Squad Should Expect 'Annoying' Training Sessions Under Erik Ten Hag, Warns Former Player

Erik ten Hag's training methods are "annoying" but the newly-appointed Manchester United manager is "simply the best" coach, according to one of his former players.  

Ten Hag was confirmed as United's next permanent manager on Thursday morning after agreeing a three-year deal with an option of a further year.

Willem Janssen, 35, played under Ten Hag during his time in charge of Dutch club Utrecht between 2015 and 2017.

Ten Hag has been confirmed as the next permanent manager of Manchester United (Image: PA)

And the centre-back, who has since gone on to make 251 appearances for Utrecht, has warned United's players to expect a tough start when Ten Hag takes charge at Old Trafford at the end of the season.

"His first sessions at Utrecht took some getting used to," Janssen wrote in The Guardian.

"He immediately demanded an extra training pitch, which the youth department was not thrilled with... he constantly stopped the game, which was annoying at the beginning.

"You were enjoying the game and then the whistle was blown again and Erik would say you were positioned wrong.

The Dutch coach is known for his meticulous approach to training (Image: PA)

"But he also explained why you had to stand elsewhere. And then you thought: 'Damn, he’s right'... Ten Hag's simply the best."

Ten Hag impressed throughout his time at Utrecht, guiding the club to fifth and fourth in the Dutch Eredivisie during his two full seasons in charge.

Another of his former players, Sjoerd Overgoor - who played under Ten Hag at Go Ahead Eagles prior to his time at Utrecht, has also spoken about the Dutch coach's exceptionally high standards and meticulous approach to training.

"He wanted the drinks put out in straight lines," Overgoor told Sky Sports.

"Everything had to be perfect in his eyes. People needed time to get used to that."

Willem Janssen played under Ten Hag during his time in charge of Dutch club Utrecht (Image: PA)

Overgoor added: "We had one man whose job it was to look after the pitch.

"Every day Erik would be coming to him and saying that the grass had to be two millimetres or something like that.

"That was a big difference for everyone at the club. He changed everything.

"Remember, this is not a big club in Holland. We did not have the best facilities but he made them the best.

"A lot of coaches come to clubs like Eagles and have the attitude that they have to deal with it. He did not deal with it. Instead, he made it better and better."