The rest has to be good as well [pressing and attitude]. That is your foundation and then you meet all the other standards that we expect.” By adhering to the principles of positional play, Erik ten Hag’s system focuses on creating numerous triangles and diamonds for the player with the ball along with numerical superiority around the ball zone. Players help each other to create better angles to pass the ball, as well as providing defensive solidity if play breaks down, by their positioning and focus on adding a spare man around the ball zone to build up fast and more vertically. Following his retirement, Ten Hag took on a coaching role at Twente's academy, initially overseeing the U17 team, followed by the U19 team until 2006, when he was promoted to assistant manager. He worked under Fred Rutten and later Steve McClaren until 2009. He then joined PSV, working as an assistant under Rutten once more. [4] Early career Ten Hag began his managerial career in 2012, when he was appointed by Go Ahead Eagles, where he led the club to promotion to the Eredivisie in his debut season. He then joined Bayern Munich II in 2013, winning promotion to the Regionalliga Bayern in 2014. He returned to the Netherlands in 2015 as sporting director and head coach at Utrecht. He joined Ajax in 2017, where he won three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups, and led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League. In 2022, he was appointed at Manchester United.

For 2001 Johan Cruyff Shield: "Erik ten Hag: Club Matches: Supercup 2001". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL . Retrieved 24 April 2022. The new Ajax boss said: "We have sold a certain amount of players and I am expecting nobody else to leave. It would be bad for us if we would lose another starter." This was a small mid-table second division club in a small city in the east. It grew into something else when he was in charge. He changed the mentality in the club. He changed the mentality of the players and the people who worked there. From day one, actually." 'Everything needs to be perfect with him' We need the right player. We have a list of players who have the attributes to play that role. We will strike the moment the player is available."Then, he got the option to make an in-swinging low cross towards the centre of the 6yard box, or a diagonal low cross towards the penalty spot where Berghuis often arrives. In these situations, the movements from Haller is important. He creates the space for Berghuis by dragging his marker away from target area. This strategy is used to make it more difficult for the opponent to cover all passing options on the pitch. If the opponent stays narrow and tries to avoid passes into the central areas of the pitch, Ajax got direct passing options to the flanks. Similarly, if the opposition tries to cut off the passing lanes to the wide players, there will be space between the channels to move the ball into. In pre-season we shouldn’t talk about that – no one in the Premier League can do that. Maybe City, because for the last six years they won the title five times,” Ten Hag says. “But any other club must first compete for the first four positions and make sure you are getting in the first four, then the first two. Then maybe you can see about getting yourself into such a position.”

a b McNulty, Phil (26 February 2023). "Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United: Erik ten Hag's side win Carabao Cup for first trophy since 2017". BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 February 2023. Raphael Varane and Marcus Rashford testified that they haven't felt fitter following the intense sessions. At the same time, by instructing the wingers to provide the width, it will create advantagous 1v1 situations in wide areas as they try to isolate one of the defenders via movements in the half-spaces. The long, winding pursuit of Frenkie de Jong has been frustrating with the financial gymnastics that accompanies Barcelona. Ten Hag has stated "there are not many options in that holding midfield position capable of the level we demand. If we can't find him, we have to deal with the players in our squad now and we will develop one in that position. The most daunting challenges still lie ahead for the manager. United's positive pre-season does not equate to guaranteed success in the campaign ahead, nor point to a reduction in the gap to City and Liverpool.Heiko Vogel trainiert künftig die U23 des FC Bayern". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 15 April 2015 . Retrieved 15 April 2015. According to the principles of positional play, Ajax wish to create as much space as possible in the center of the park to aid ball circulation by stretching the pitch as much as possible. The players will look to try to open up passing lanes for each other with their positioning.