De Jong and De Ligt weren't hype though. The reason Barca didn't care about losing FDJ is because they've got Gavi and Pedri already. If they didn't have both, they'd be a lot more bothered.
De Ligt was a massive talent even before ETH. He started the Europa League final against us in 2017 as a teenager.
So what about Van De Beek?
Ten Hag is a top coach literally changing players positions and coaching them.
Martinez at Ajax? I’m not saying he was shit - but did Ten Hag not improve him?
What about Rashford this season? Wan Bissaka whether to be sold or not has improved a lot to do so.
Dalot for half the season?
Even De Gea for how shit he was still tried his best to play like a sweeper keeper even if he was crap at it.
Garanacho also obviously has natural talent - but neither was this season that passed just from natural talent, it was also from Ten Hag’s coaching of him.
Lindelof went from someone no one was that bothered about to someone many people think has become a good back up that can compete with our starting line.
Watch how players like Ziyech looked at Ajax vs Chelsea - surely the league is different but the way Ten Hag had them playing had a whole different level of hype around them.
De Ligt, Dest, De Jong, Ziyech,Onana and VDB’s hype went up a whole different level after Ajax’s semi final run in the CL - 3’rds left that transfer window. Was that run in the CL purely due to player ability or was some of it being improved by Ten Hag?
He does improve players - just because he didn’t improve Maguire, Mctominay or even Sancho doesn’t rule off that ability.