Erik ten Hag believes Arne Slott is arriving in “better waters” at Liverpool than at Man United, summing up his feelings on the problems at Old Trafford.
With Ten Haag expected to be sacked regardless of the result of Saturday’s FA Cup final, there may not be a reunion with Slott in the Premier League next season.
The two Dutchmen have met on four occasions while in the Eredivisie, with Slott’s AZ Alkmaar triumphing twice over Ten Hague’s Ajax, who hit back at Feyenoord.
Both have built strong reputations for their work in Holland, but Ten Haag’s struggles since joining Man United have been a red flag for many Liverpool fans.
The Man United boss himself believes Slott has a better platform to succeed at Anfield, which underlines how he feels about his job at Old Trafford.
“This is great for the Dutch coaching guild, and Arne Slott also suits Liverpool with his philosophy,” Ten Haag told vi.nl.
“Jurgen Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders left a strong foundation.
“He ended up in better waters than me when I went to Manchester United from Holland, in terms of the structure at the club, in terms of the balance in the team.”
Ten Haag’s time in Manchester has been filled with struggles both on and off the pitch, with the 54-year-old dealing with a ridiculous run of offences.
Although there is promise of change with their recent takeover, the club is in shambles, highlighted by the news of Ten Hag’s sacking ahead of the FA Cup final.
In that sense, he is right, because Slott joined Liverpool at the best possible time – and Klopp only decided to leave when he felt the squad was strong enough.
Of course, Ten Haag’s words could be seen as piling the pressure on his compatriot, but there is sincerity in his assessment of the two clubs.
Slott previously turned down an offer to take over as Tottenham manager, which, as Ange Postecoglou has since revealed, is also a very different proposition from the Liverpool head coach.
Really better waters!
