Tactically, Fred is clear. He said on the Charla Podcast, reports VoetbalPrimeur.be, that “Ten Hag was very good tactically”. And then, in the same interview: “He had arguments with everyone. With Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, Rashford and with me.”
I read that twice on Monday, my folder open on the kitchen table. Because I’m good tactically too. The 4-4-2, the block, the transitions: I run all that on Tuesday. When we’ve got eleven, that is. And I too have weeks when I’ve fallen out with the whole dressing room. With my number 10, who wants to play further up. With the keeper, who wants to take the free kicks. With the club delegate, who has forgotten the cards again.
Fred also explains that Ten Hag wanted the team to run a lot, and that Ronaldo lost his place in the starting eleven. I know that team talk. Where we play, running a lot means running up the slope of pitch 2. One way, fine. The other way, it’s a lifestyle choice.
What strikes me is the list. Four names. If one of my players ever made a list on a podcast, it would be longer, but you’d have to explain who the people are. Ronaldo, everyone knows. Our left back, you’d have to point out that he only comes on Sundays when his mother-in-law minds the kids.
Fred, for his part, played at Manchester United from 2018 to 2023, according to VoetbalPrimeur.be. He saw Ten Hag arrive in 2022. He keeps the compliment and the row in the same sentence. That’s the best report any gaffer can hope for: they moan about you, but they recognise your system.
So I’ve decided to do the same. This Sunday at three, I’ll be very good tactically and I won’t fall out with anyone. Maybe with the delegate. A flat pitch away, mind you.
It’s true, we checked: VoetbalPrimeur.be.
