Erik ten Hag has issued a thinly veiled criticism of incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot, claiming the former Feyenoord boss may be overrated.
Slot will take over as the Reds’ new manager on June 1, replacing Jurgen Klopp after the German announced he would be leaving the Merseyside side earlier this year.
The 45-year-old has been in charge of Feyenoord since 2021 and has guided the Dutch side to success in recent years, winning the club’s first Eredivisie title since 2017 last season, before clinching the Dutch Cup in April.
The former midfielder, who played for PEC Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and NAC Breda during his career, has been labeled a workaholic, with Klopp notably backing the incoming Reds boss as a “good coach and a good guy”.
However, it appears that Ten Hag, who is currently waiting to find out if he will remain in charge at Old Trafford next season, was apparently less impressed with the job Slot has done at Feyenoord this season, stating that Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven of this season year, it was better.
Erik ten Hag (right) appeared to criticize incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot, suggesting he was overrated.
Slot (center) has guided Feyenoord to the Dutch Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup in the last two seasons.
The Dutchman (pictured) will officially start work at Liverpool on June 1 but has big boots to fill as he replaces outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp.
“People have become too lyrical about Feyenoord,” the Man United manager said, according to Mirror.
‘Feyenoord remained stable this year, but not at the top. PSV Eindhoven was two categories better in all aspects. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of pressure, in terms of intensity, whatever.”
PSV, led by Dutch coach Peter Bosz, finished seven points ahead of Feyenoord at the top of the table, while Ten Hag’s former team Ajax failed to qualify for the Champions League as they dropped to fifth place .
“Bosz and his staff did it perfectly,” added Ten Hag. “But the rest of the club is also well formed.
“PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by far, even much better than Feyenoord.”
It appears Slot has wasted no time adjusting to life in the UK, with the Dutchman being pictured in Liverpool earlier this week ahead of his move.
He will inherit a team that has been built up by Klopp over the last few years, which features a host of world-class talent and some bright young stars.
Klopp (pictured) will leave Liverpool after almost nine years in charge, having announced his decision to leave the club earlier this season.
Amid a well-documented injury crisis this season, Klopp was praised for his commitment to bringing in several academy stars, who more than impressed on the big stage, ultimately helping his team win the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool had named eight academy stars in their EFL Cup-winning squad, including Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Conor Bradley, Ben Doak and Lewis Koumas, all of whom are now being chosen to lead the post-Klopp era at Liverpool. .
‘Jurgen and (assistant) Pep Lijnders have left a solid foundation. He (Slot) is in a better position than I was when I came to Man United from Holland,” Ten Hag said in an interview with Dutch media Voetball International.
Slot (right) has been seen for the first time in Liverpool since his move to the UK.
Klopp made sure the Anfield faithful were excited about their new manager, chanting his name as part of his farewell speech.
Ten Hag (pictured) is waiting to hear the results of Man United’s season review amid doubts over his job security.
‘In terms of structure at the club, in terms of balance in the national team. Last year they (Liverpool) had a transition in the team.
“Then guys like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left. Last season at Liverpool, they also had a bit of the year we have now, with a lot of injuries.”
Meanwhile, his future at United remains uncertain, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Man United management team set to carry out a season review this week which will also assess Ten Hag’s suitability to continue in his current role.
Since joining the club in 2022, Ten Hag has won two major honors with United, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but faces doubts over his candidacy after United endured a torrid season, finishing eighth in the Premier League. League, its lowest league position since the 1989-90 season.
