United fan and famous big brother Tobias Schweinsteiger used to play under Ten hag at Bayern Munich 2. Here's his say (google translate):
- When I first met him, in the wardrobe in Bavaria, I remember how warm he was as a human being. He shook hands with each and every one of us. He looked deep into the eyes of each of us. I remember it because this was completely unusual in Germany. We were used to the coaches being authoritarian.
- Another thing I never forget is the workouts. They were so long. Sometimes I had to tell him that even though I liked the sessions, the group of players thought they were too long. They were actually so long that it was talked about throughout the club.
- The first team could have a passing exercise. They spent maybe 75 minutes completing it perfectly. They only used one ball.
- We were going through the same exercise, but we were not perfect. We needed a whole net of balls. It took 75 minutes, 90 minutes, two hours and we were still out on the training field. Several times we were out in the field for two and a half hours, he says.
Why? Yes, because Erik ten Hag is a football perfectionist.
It took so long because we on the 2nd team were not perfect, and Erik was masterful in details. He followed every pass. He coached every touch. I remember he kept shouting "no bouncy ball, no bouncy ball." He was so extremely concerned that the passes should not bounce across the grass. They had to go bang, bang from player to player. Therefore, it sometimes took two and a half hours before we managed to complete what the first team managed in half the time.
- Erik was obsessed with the details, says Schweinsteiger.
However, the drill gave results.
94 goals were 23 goals than Bayern 2 managed in two more games the season before. It was clearly most in the Regional League, and it gave a clear league victory.
Only a giant goalkeeper mistake in overtime in the play-off final ruined the promotion.
Ten Hag's victory percentage as Bayern 2 coach is also better than others who have tried. It all happened at the same time as Ten Hag was able to absorb learning from Pep Guardiola, who had just come in as Bayern's head coach.
He inspired me to become a coach
However, it was not Guardiola, but Ten Hag who left lasting traces in Tobias Schweinsteiger.
It was about the way Ten Hag led, the way Ten Hag trained Bayern 2 and the way he treated people.
The Dutchman, who was then in his 40s, became a huge inspiration for the big brother of football legend Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger had previously been coached by greats such as Klaus Augenthaler, Mehmet Scholl, current Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl and current Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl, but Ten Hag was something completely different.
In fact, Ten Hag was so inspiring that Schweinsteiger himself chose to become a football coach.
- Erik was so incredibly good. He opened my eyes to how to watch football, says Tobias Schweinsteiger.
He eventually had to tell me, “Tobi, you can not think like a coach right now. You're still a player. That's why you have to think like a player ».
- But he added at the same time: "Do you want to become a coach? Then you can train the U15 team next Wednesday ». I did so, enjoyed it and then they invited me back.
- All this happened because of Erik.
- I must also add that there were challenges in the group at the time. There were two groupings of players in the locker room. It was the young and talented players, and then there were the workers, with people like me. There was a problem getting the two groups to go in the same direction. Erik also tried to fix it, but without really succeeding.
- When I went to Amsterdam on a study trip a few years ago, we talked about it. Then he said: "Tobi, as a coach you often try to make things happen, but it is not always successful."
- However, he learned from it, and all I hear from Ajax is that they now have a good group there.
- Then it is important to add that it was not like that in Ajax when he got there. There were problems with players, culture and achievements, but everything changed with Erik. I think it is because he brings with him such great football knowledge and has such a clear identity, says Schweinsteiger.
Need other types of players
Tobias Schweinsteiger grew up as a United supporter, and still follows what is happening at the club. Like so many others, it has also been tough for him to see the fall, a fall that for him became extra tough when his little brother Bastian had his United dream ruined when José Mourinho came in the doors.
He has no faith that Pochettino or even Erik ten Hag can make United a real gold candidate in a very short time.
- No Unfortunately. It will probably take some time, he says.
As supporters, we talk all the time about maybe being able to fight for the gold next season. That is the dream, but as I see it, there is no chance for United now. I really want to highlight Arsenal. Now they create a new group of players, a new philosophy, a new style and have a good development with it under Mikel Arteta, but in United they need other players to achieve this.
- Exactly those players, by the way, I think Erik can find. For United, it is not about finding the biggest stars, but players who may be a little worse individually, but who can also make the team - the collective - stronger.
- The question is mostly whether the United supporters can accept this type of player.
- At least I can not see that there are enough selfish players in United now, and you need selfish players to play the football both Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag want. Just look at how they play in Ajax. You need the selfless players to take the races that open the rooms. These are the players United need.
- United's goal now is to get up to the level Manchester City and Liverpool are at. If Erik had come to City, as they were set up when Pep came, then there would have been no problem, I think. Then he would have success. But look at the team Klopp came to in Liverpool. That squad was not as talented. He needed 2-3 years to change that.
United need real leaders, some clear ones like individualists and real workers. Then that mix of players must have time to develop. The problem now is that I can not really see who the real leaders are, says Schweinsteiger.
- Will you be elated on his behalf or scared on his behalf if he got the United job?
- Excited. As I see it, he is one of the best coaches. Especially when it comes to football. I have seen it myself with my own eyes.
- Then it is a little harder to know how he is as a group leader. It's not something you can watch on videos. Therefore, it is more difficult to say how he can possibly succeed in a difficult group, but in Ajax he has developed a very good group.
He has also developed all the teams he has been in. First Go Ahead Eagles, with promotion. Then Bayern, then Utrecht, with 4-4-2 and diamond formation, which was something new in the Netherlands where they are mostly used to 4-3-3. I will be elated because in that case he will come to United with a very clear philosophy.
- But scared? No. I was more scared under Ole Gunnar Solskjær since I then never knew what we got. Yes, United could win games then too, but it was often because of individual performances and not so often because of the team. There was something missing at the base then.
I also think that Erik's team, with the ball, will be much more exciting to watch than Ralf Rangnicks United is. The key, however, is what I have already mentioned - he needs players who are not selfish, players who put the collective first.
- Now, when everyone in United does their job and follows the game plan, it looks very good, but they are not mentally strong enough to complete it through 90 minutes.
- Rangnick's system is really quite simple. It's about pressure and then scoring less than six seconds after winning the ball. The problem in United is that there are individual players who like to have six seconds with the ball alone before they center it further, says Schweinsteiger.
Gold match in three years will be good
He is excited about what Ten Hag will choose if he gets the offer, since the Dutchman himself has repeatedly told Schweinsteiger that patience is important.
- Going to United now will be a big decision for him.
- 99 percent of all coaches would take the United job, but if you are among the five who can really get the job then you are at a level where you can ask yourself different questions. Will this be right? What is good about United? What is not good? What do I really have now where I am? What will happen in one or two years? Is Liverpool coming then? Is City coming? Are the Spanish top clubs coming?
- But yes, it will be exciting if he gets the job. I think it will be a good choice.
- I see it as follows: If United make a choice that allows them to actually compete for the league gold in three years, then the choice they make this summer will be a perfect choice, but for that to happen, they must develop both the club and the team, says Tobias Schweinsteiger.
Lifted from united.no.
