Erik Ten Hag has spoken with Sir Alex Ferguson over his new job as Manchester United boss, the Dutchman has revealed.
Ten Hag became the fifth permanent manager at Old Trafford since Ferguson retired in 2013 when he joined United from Ajax this summer.
The 52-year-old confirmed that he has spoken to Ferguson about the role, saying: ‘I had contact with him but what we spoke is private. It is always fantastic to talk with Sir Alex about life, but especially about football.’
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all failed to match Ferguson’s success over the last nine years, but Ten Hag is confident that he is the man to reverse United’s fortunes.
‘I must say I have a strong belief,’ he said. ‘This is a big challenge but, until now, everywhere I’ve been I’ve got the maximum out of my teams. This project is the most difficult, I realise that. I know it’s not an easy job. But I am here, so I am convinced I can do it.’
Asked about his targets for the first season, Ten Hag was careful not to make any bold predictions about usurping Manchester City or Liverpool.
‘The first target is to win every game,’ he added. ‘That has to be our approach. That belongs to Man United.
‘We want to play proactive, attacking football where it’s possible. We want to play good, but if we don’t play good we still have to win.
‘I have a strategy. It’s a process, it takes time. But in the end we have to make sure from the outset there is a winning team.’