Jaap Stam backs Erik ten Hag to succeed at Man United

  /  autty

Jaap Stam has backed his Dutch compatriot Erik ten Hag to prosper at Manchester United - but only if he is fully supported in the transfer market.

The Old Trafford club have been in decline for almost a decade and Ten Hag will have his work cut out to restore them to former glories.

He has already identified a number of summer transfer targets - including the £69million-valued Barcelona and Holland midfielder Frenkie de Jong - with United's hierarchy working hard to bring them in.

And former United defender Stam, who won the Treble under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, has tipped Ten Hag for success.

He told The Guardian: 'We all know what he can do and what he has done over in Holland with Ajax. Hopefully he can do the same now with United.

'Obviously, there are certain things that will need to be there for him to help him, maybe in terms of different players and personnel. But I think he's done a good job in Holland.'

As well as addressing problems in central midfield, United could also do with a new striker, central defender and right-back after a disastrous 2021-22 season in which they only finished sixth in the Premier League.

Stam, who played 127 games during his three-season United career, warned that Ten Hag will have to adjust to certain cultural differences between Dutch and English football.

He added: 'In Holland, we always say that every player in every position needs to be able to play football.

'So a centre-back needs to be able to dribble forward, to be the extra man in midfield, to have that pass. We try to educate players to be able to do everything.

'At United, one of Fergie's qualities was bringing players in of a certain ability who could do things well in their position; then if they go well together, you've got a chance of doing very well.

'He got the right players for the right positions.'

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