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Featured Image Credit: Image: Ajax
Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Ajax
Josh Lawless
Manchester United fans are buzzing with optimism for the future after seeing a video of Erik ten Hag talking tactics.
The Dutchman was appointed as the club's new manager on Thursday, taking over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick in June and signing a contract until 2025 - with the option of extending for another year.
Ten Hag, currently in charge of Ajax, was United's number one managerial target and John Murtough, the club's football director, said the club were impressed with the 52-year-old's "long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at".
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United fans have no doubt been perusing the internet to find out more about their new boss and one clip in particular has caught the eye - amassing 1.1 million views on Twitter.
Ten Haag is discussing about off-the-ball movement with great insight and detail and it's enough for one supporter to declare, "Put the word out there Manchester United is back".
Analysing Ajax's goal vs PSV, Ten Hag said: "We call that 'creating several 10s'. Getting between the lines.
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"You see that in the movements off the ball. Dusan's run. Liverpool are masters of this, creating space for each other with the off-the-ball runs.
"Because [Dusan] Tadic goes wide - opening up the centre and Joel [Veltman] gives the ball at the right time to Donny. That creates a three-on-two situation in the centre.
"(Donny) Van de Beek, [Kasper] Dolberg and [Quincy] Promes against Luckassen and Dumfries. In order to destroy the opponent you need off-the-ball runs. That's the key to success."
The snippet was part of a 16 minute video Ajax filmed with their manager on the Johan Cruyff Arena, where he broke down five Ajax attacks and the tactics he deploys.
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One man who was key to those attacks and Ajax's success was Donny van de Beek.
Ten Hag called his compatriot's treatment at United "a mortal sin" and his past comments would suggest forgotten man Van de Beek will play an important role for him when he returns from an underwhelming loan at Everton.
Wholesale changes are expected to occur at Old Trafford this summer, with as many as 12 players departing.
However, it has emerged that Ten Hag is ready to build his team around eight players.
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Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Jadon Sancho are seen as key members, with youngsters Hannibal Mejbri, Alejandro Garnacho and James Garner highly-rated.