Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has told midfielder Donny van de Beek that he will have to earn his spot in the side for next season, just like everyone else, despite their history together at Ajax.
Many fans believe that Van de Beek will now finally get a fair crack at establishing himself as a United regular with a familiar face in charge. The 25-year-old – for reasons unknown – was not able to break through under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick.
Whatever Ten Hag’s predecessors did or didn’t see, he is a man that knows exactly how to get the best out of Van de Beek. The midfielder scored 10 goals and added 11 assists for Ajax in the season prior to his Old Trafford arrival.
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However, while Van de Beek reviving his United career under his former Ajax boss may prove to be true in the end, the 52-year-old has already stressed that he will not be giving out any free rides. A place in the fold will have to be earned not given.
“It’s the same for every player, he has to do it by himself,” Ten Hag told ESPN. “Me as a manager and the coaching staff around him can do everything to set the right conditions so he can perform, but in the end, the player has to do it by himself.”
Van de Beek has had a rather tough time in England after completing his move to United in 2020. The Reds had just signed Bruno Fernandes six months prior and his explosion into superstardom closed off an obvious pathway into the first team in the Dutchman’s preferred position.
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The midfielder primes himself on making dangerous runs into the box and having a feel for the goal. However, he is also capable of doing a job deeper into the engine room. But even with United’s recent struggles in that department, he was never really given a chance. Scott McTominay, Fred, Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic were always the preferred options.
Heading into the new season under Ten Hag, everyone has a clean slate – even those who were seemingly destined for the exit door. In Van de Beek’s case, it also helps that the new Reds’ boss believes in his ability to turn things around.
“Donny has the capability,” Ten Hag said. “I have seen it, but he has to prove himself. They [the players] have to take responsibility for their performance.”
As a result of his United struggles, Van de Beek fell out of favour with Dutch national team manager Louis van Gaal. Naturally, playing time is a big factor in players getting called up. On the bright side, however, it meant that the 25-year-old was ready to report for pre-season for Ten Hag’s first training session.
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The Dutchman made 21 appearances in all competitions – between United and his Everton loan – last season, scoring two goals. He had no Premier League starts for the Reds before Rangnick shipped him out in January.
United are three games into their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia and Van de Beek is yet to be picked from the start. He did, however, get a chance to briefly play with the starters against Crystal Palace on Monday and recorded a clever assist, teeing up Marcus Rashford for United’s second goal.
The fact that Van de Beek has had to settle to play most of his pre-season alongside youth and string players shows that Ten Hag was not kidding. The former Ajax standout will have to earn every minute of game time in 2022/23. But he knew what to expect.
Speaking of Ten Hag, Van de Beek said: “He’s still the same, he will not change as a manager. I see a lot of the same things as at Ajax, I think he can help the team a lot. Of course, it’s important to have a good manager but, in the end, the players have to do it. We work hard every day, sometimes twice a day, we’re making steps up but we’re not there yet.”
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United had a very lacklustre transfer window the summer Van de Beek joined the club. It sometimes felt as though the Dutchman was a bit of a panic buy just to get extra bodies into a squad that lacked depth. However, whatever the reason, he is a talented footballer capable of contributing.
Though, with that said, his path towards being a regular starter may have become even more complex than it was in the beginning. Bruno is the clear standout in the No. 10 role and the arrival of Christian Eriksen puts an extra hurdle in front of Van de Beek’s stride.
For quite some time now, it has felt as though if the Dutchman is to have a career at the Theatre of Dreams, it will have to be deeper. That’s where he was deployed against Palace earlier this week, after replacing McTominay at half-time.
Whether Frenkie de Jong signs for the club this summer or not, United will still be short of senior options there. The iron is quite hot right now and it’s time for Van de Beek to strike. With McTominay not dazzling and James Garner battling a knock for the first half of pre-season, there is a spot there for the taking for the 25-year-old.
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There is every chance that he joins Fred at the heart of United’s midfield for the Premier League opener against Brighton on August 7. But he has to continue impressing with three tune up games remaining.
The encouraging thing for Van de Beek is that he is aware of the challenges ahead and knows that right now, he is not in position to be picky when it comes to where he plays. He just has to play.
“I have to play where the team needs me,” United’s No. 34 said. “I can play as a 10, but also an eight. One of my strengths is to come in the box, make a goal or give an assist, but I like to be on the ball as well.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Donny van de Beek, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Premier League, Crystal Palace, Liverpool