Erik ten Hag warns next Man Utd owners against Todd Boehly-style transfer man as he demands ‘the right personalities’
ERIK TEN HAG warned Manchester United’s potential new owners not to screw it up like Boehly.
United meet Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday and need just a point to qualify for the Champions League.
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They take on a club that has been in crisis since being taken over by American businessman Todd Boehly last May, resulting in a huge transfer fee of over £600m.
He is also his third manager – with the fourth arriving this summer in the form of Mauricio Pochettino.
Meanwhile, the Blues have slipped to 12th in the league, having won just one of their last 12 games and lost eight.
United are on the verge of a Champions League return – but are also the subject of a takeover battle between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
But their plans for the future are unclear and manager Ten Hag agreed that under Boehly, Chelsea were an example of how things can go wrong.
The Dutchman said: “You have to do the right things. You can have money but you have to spend it wisely and you have to have a strategy behind it – otherwise the money doesn’t work.”
United’s strategy has improved under director of football John Murtough alongside Ten Hag.
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The Red Devils manager said: “We’re on the right track now – but we can also learn from this season.”
“We have to evaluate that after the season and draw the right conclusions for the future.”
The pair are already working on transfer targets for next season, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane at the top of the list.
They have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, who was sent to Ten Hag yesterday.
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He replied: “If we have news, we will tell you.”
That shouldn’t be taken as a taste of the Brazilian striker, but is a standard manager response to transfers.
In fact, it’s the kind of Galactico transfer they’re trying to avoid after burning their fingers with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ten Hag said: “I want players with the right personalities, who excel and contribute at the highest level – that’s what we want.”
A return to the Champions League is now considered a big step for United. A far cry from when they reached three finals of the competition from 2008-2011.
In fact, they haven’t made it past the quarterfinals since the last game. . . if they qualify.
Ten Hag said: “We have strengthened, but we still have a long way to go.”
Across the city, things are different as Manchester City look set to emulate the Red Devils’ treble exploits of 1999.
Ten Hag must personally congratulate City’s Pep Guardiola on winning the title in the first leg.
But he said: “I will take this opportunity to congratulate him – the way they won is a demonstration of football.”
“Everyone likes the way they play, so attractive, so brilliant.”
United hope Marcus Rashford is fit again tonight after missing two games.