Erik ten Hag's Dutch mentality has allowed him to make the big decisions needed to turn Manchester United around claimed Craig Burley.
The Red Devils boss recorded his fourth win in five Premier League games since taking charge at Old Trafford with a 3-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
Since taking the reins at the Premier League club, the Dutchman has made some crunch decisions, including the move to bench star forward Cristiano Ronaldo and club captain Harry Maguire.
Burley claimed that Ten Hag's ruthless mentality allowed him to make those key choices as he insisted the manager's ability to make decisions was never in doubt.
Speaking on ESPN after the game, Burley said: 'Shaka said he wasn't sure Ten Hag had the stomach to make the big decisions. I was sure.
'Because the Dutch people that I've worked with, this is their mentality. Maybe not every single one but the bulk of them. The coaches and players I worked with at Celtic and Chelsea are so single-minded, they're great teammates, but when they make a decision it's them, it's about them.
'Gullit had no problem doing it whether it was good or bad or it affected me. Jansen was the same. If it wasn't working, he cut you.
'For me that is one of the big success stories in Dutch football is when it's not working for them generally their managers are very ruthless, they will make decisions. And he [Ten Hag] has already shown it, but I don't think it was ever in doubt that he was going to make decisions.'
However, Burley's co-pundit Shaka Hislop did not have the same confidence in Ten Hag.
He previously claimed that he did not believe the Red Devils boss had what it takes to turn United's fortunes around but he admitted that he had been proven wrong by Ten Hag's start to life at Old Trafford.
'Credit to Erik ten Hag,' Hislop said. 'After the Brentford game I said I'm not sure Erik ten Hag has what it takes to turn this Manchester United team around. I'm not sure he has the presence to make some of the big decisions that Manchester United need, that's what I said.
'He's proven me wrong on so many levels. He's left Harry Maguire out, that was an easier decision. Left Ronaldo out. You thought the only was to get Ronaldo out of that team is to sell him but he's still there and Ten Hag has stuck by his decision.
'I thought the football we have seen Manchester United play in this game and against Liverpool showed the best Manchester United can be.
'And credit to him, for getting the best out if Rashford, the best out of Dalot, for his defensive partnership, for leaving out Maguire.'
Antony's opener handed United a 1-0 lead at half-time, before Bukayo Saka leveled the scoreboard for Arsenal on the hour mark.
But Rashford scored twice in 10 minutes to shock the Gunners and hand Ten Hag his fourth successive Premier League win.
Pjay7
232
@Manunited fans don't just scroll past without liking.... 👹❤️
Hilterz
224
Man Utd
crmusm
136
Manchester United is in good form now just imagine if this beast awake 😉
footballfr3ak
99
Nobody can mess with 10 hag. He is a mentality monster 👹 Look how he humbled Cristiano Ronaldo for not being respectful,missing the pre-season and acting like a diva. Unlike being arrogant and getting angry when teammates scored. now you can see Cristiano applauding from the bench. ETH effect ⚡⚡
whatsPoppin10
42
benching ronaldo and maguire was the tough decision he made and it paid off great coach
PraveenVm
28
And his decisions have worked so far. For people who say Ronaldo changed the game when he came on, please develop some shame, have some little bit of shame. I've seen many people criticise Rashford and mc Tom for starting this game and even criticised ten hag for starting them. All the Ronaldo fans did that and some United fans too shamelessly. But after they won the game, I see people talking about how Ronaldo changed the game indirectly after coming in. Grow the f up and have some shame. Rashford, Bruno and Eriksen was brilliant and the defense was solid. That's the only reason they won the game. People moaned that why didn't casemiro and Ronaldo start the game. It's because casemiro can't fcukign make a defense splitting pass like Bruno or Eriksen and Ronaldo can't run inbetween the defense like Rashford. Fans are clowned and the manager won game. I know some United fans genuinely support the manager and his decisions. But majority of SO CALLED United fans in the media are not true United fans, they're Ronaldo fans who wants Ronaldo to score and shine instead of the team's success. If so be it, but please have some shame and don't fcukign say that Ronaldo made a pass to Bruno in the 73th minute, 23 seconds that's why united won the game. 🤌 When Messi literally playmaked and create chances by scoring very less goals you people only saw his goals and criticised him the whole season. Now when Ronaldo isn't even playmaking, he's not a playmaker and he isn't even scoring and he isn't even playing enough. But you people find ways to indirectly complement. It's not a complement to him, it's an insult to all other players who gave their everything to win the game and an insult to the manager! True United fans know what made them win the game!