Sebastien Haller has suggested Erik ten Hag may not find the Manchester United dressing room as receptive to his ideas or management pattern as the Ajax squad currently at his disposal.
The Dutch manager is now the clear favourite to take over the reins at Old Trafford after impressing in an interview with United’s hierarchy last month, with the club attracted to the brand of football he plays.
But Haller – who has been prolific since swapping West Ham for Ajax – has said it might not be so easy for Ten Hag’s philosophy and management style to transfer over to the theatre of dreams.
Discussing Ten Hag’s potential move to United, Haller told CNN: ‘He’s clever, he knows his strengths but also his weaknesses. I think he’s trying to become better every day, so of course he’s trying to be there for the players… trying to keep everyone involved in the team.
‘But I want to say that every dressing room is different, every team is different, so you need to act a bit differently.
‘It depends on the dressing room you have so maybe his quality today can be a weakness somewhere else. So let’s see how he does.’
Ten Hag took over an Ajax team with a deeply ingrained style of play and a number of academy graduates schooled in that philosophy – something he will not have at United, who have lacked an identity to their football for some time.
On the possibility of Ajax losing their manager, Haller added: ‘I think we all understand. It’s the choice from the coach to choose what he wants. We are just his players.
‘I am just grateful for what he did for me and I just hope that he will take the best decision for himself.
‘I have nothing to say because I don’t even know everything inside Manchester United and the way they really want him. I can just say that he needs to follow his heart, his brain, and take the right decision.’
Haller also revealed how Ten Hag has helped him improve his own game, underlining the value the Ajax head coach places in players after his instructions to the letter.
Asked how much Ten Hag has improved him, Haller added: ‘A lot. He’s responsible a lot for me coming to Ajax because of course I know him, I know him well, I know what he’s able to do and how he wanted to use me as well.
‘For me there was a lot of safety, let’s say, because I know how he wants to play, I know how good he is tactically and he will never let his players just do what they want. He always has a good view on the opponent so he gives us the keys to succeed during the game.’
