Erik ten Hag, who takes over at Manchester United at the end of the season, will have to make a big decision in goalkeeping. The current Ajax manager signed a three-year contract deal with an option for another year on Monday.
Ten Hag has promised an engaging style of play, fluid formations, and continuous pressing, which will be a departure from what United has seen recently. Ten Hag’s current club, Ajax, is on track to win their third league title in four years.
Playing out from the back is an important part of the current Premier League, as is Ten Hag’s approach. When he takes over at Old Trafford, he may face a difficult decision in this regard.
Erik ten Hag, who takes over at Manchester United at the end of the season, will have to make a big decision in goalkeeping. The current Ajax manager signed a three-year contract deal with an option for another year on Monday.
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Ten Hag has promised an engaging style of play, fluid formations, and continuous pressing, which will be a departure from what United has seen recently. Ten Hag’s current club, Ajax, is on track to win their third league title in four years.
Playing out from the back is an important part of the current Premier League, as is Ten Hag’s approach. When he takes over at Old Trafford, he may face a difficult decision in this regard.
With the emergence of this goaltender style, Ten Hag may want his keeper to position himself high up the pitch when in position, as Ederson did at City, to help with ball distribution and control.
De Gea has a 69 percent pass completion rate this season, while Ederson has an 88 percent pass completion rate. Furthermore, Ederson has made more passes, made more headed clearances, and had more ball touches.
Dean Henderson, Ten Hag’s other goalkeeper, is likewise an issue. The 25-year-old has been a lifelong United supporter and is widely expected to follow De Gea as the club’s No.1 goalkeeper. However, he has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, appearing in only three games this season, none of which were in the league.
He had two highly successful loan spells at Sheffield United between 2018 and 2020, helping the Blades gain promotion to the Premier League and subsequently ending in ninth place, collecting the club’s young player of the year award.
Henderson will not want to play second fiddle to another goalie for another year, thus he will most likely look for a loan or permanent move somewhere for next season. The problem is that Ajax expressed interest in loaning Henderson out in January, but Ralf Rangnick wanted to keep his No. 2 at the club.
United is having a terrible season and will need a lot of effort both on and off the field to turn things around, with Rangnick comparing it to “open-heart surgery” before Saturday’s loss to Arsenal.
Goalkeeping is without a doubt one of the most critical decisions to be made. Ten Hag may decide to keep Henderson or sign a new goaltender.
