Ten Hag prepares for top match and compares Man Utd to Ajax

On Sunday, the top match against Arsenal awaits Ten Hag. Despite The Gunners being the favorites, the Tukker sees opportunities in London. 'I've watched a lot of matches in the Premier League, and no team is in top form yet.

That's normal at the beginning of the season. Everyone needs to adjust and improve. That's a manager's task. We need to improve as well, especially against Arsenal. If your organization isn't in order, you'll encounter problems. We will demand more from the players.'

'Remembering the previous match against Nottingham Forest,' Ten Hag recalled to Sky Sports, 'we already improved. After an early setback, our team turned the match around and secured the points at Old Trafford (3-2). 'We completely dominated. In certain parts of the game, we had ninety percent possession. We pressed them back and created many chances, even though Forest was compact. That's what I want to see: regaining possession, pressing high up the field to create opportunities.'

Ten Hag emphasizes that his team's pressing must be effective. 'Otherwise, you won't control the game. It doesn't always have to be high up the field; sometimes you can sit deep, but you still need to be a threat to the opponent. And you give the fans something to enjoy. Your style becomes proactive and dynamic. And that's what makes it attractive.'

'I don't play the same way at Manchester United as I did at Ajax,' Ten Hag explained his philosophy. 'You have to consider the qualities you possess. You need to adapt your ideas to them, but it's important to find a balance. When I lost Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong at Ajax, I had to build a different team too.'

The start of the season is crucial in this regard, Ten Hag confirmed. And on Deadline Day, he added several players, like Sofyan Amrabat, to the squad. 'That's the most challenging part. You need to accumulate points while still building. But you have to maintain trust in your philosophy. If you manage that, you'll see that things will become smoother and better. That's the process we're working on now.'