Tobias Schweinsteiger was Erik ten Hag’s captain between 2013 and 2015 for Bayern Munich II. He revealed the Dutchman’s influence in his own managerial career and claims that the newly appointed Manchester United manager is “one of the best coaches in Europe”.
Brother of Bastian — who played for United for two seasons after he signed for Louis van Gaal in 2015 — Tobias was an experienced player for Ten Hag in his young Bavarian side. He detailed the role that the new United boss played in his development.
“We worked together for two years, two complete seasons, in the Under-23s team.” Schweinsteiger told the United website about his time with Ten Hag in Germany.
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“I have been his captain over these two years and for me, yeah, he is a role model. It’s because of him that I started coaching.
“He was always talking to me and I was talking to him and he always talked like: ‘Tobi, think like a player. Don’t think like a coach because you’re still a player.’ But he gave me that feeling that there could be a talent for me in coaching.
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“For me, he’s a role model. He’s developed over the years. I met him three years ago on a visit in Amsterdam for one week. I visited him and the first team, and also the youth teams, he showed me everything. He was so open. He showed me their philosophy, his philosophy, what he developed, his style of coaching, his style of leadership. For me, he is one of the best coaches in Europe, for sure.”
Ten Hag won three Eredivisie titles during his tenure at Ajax. The tactical nature that his teams play with has been appreciated by many, including Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, and his former captain explained the behind-the-scenes under an Erik ten Hag side on the training ground.
“He is a master in training sessions,” He declared. “I remember we had long training sessions in the second team and, in the club, there were some rumours about long training sessions in the Under-23s.
“After a few weeks, we recognised why were doing long training sessions. He wanted us to be perfect and would stop the training session if it doesn’t work and if it was not perfect at all.
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"And, from time to time, the training sessions weren’t that long anymore because we were better. We were improved and, in rondos, in pressing situations, we were better and better, so the time was shorter on the pitch.
“But, yeah, he was, for me, the first coach when I felt like a training session made sense. Before, training sessions were okay – this part, this part and then that part. He was the first coach, for me, from the warm-up to the last match on the pitch it was like okay, one seam and we are working on that until it’s perfect.
“That’s a big part of my training philosophy as well, also with the education and the UEFA pro-licence I did last season, that’s a big part – to have one seam and work in that seam until it’s perfect. Don’t stop until it’s perfect. He is that guy who doesn’t stop until it is perfect.”
Erik ten Hag’s tactical blueprint is something that excites many Manchester United supporters. After a dire campaign, they will be hoping that he is able to help turn around the club that finished in sixth place last season.
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While it won't be an easy task to complete, Ten Hag's reputation is a well-respected one, and the movement around the club suggests that they are learning from past mistakes.
Ten Hag has announced that United's pre-season training will commence on the 27th of June, just over two weeks before the opening game against Liverpool in Thailand on their pre-season tour.
Featured Image Credit: Manchester UnitedTopics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag
