In a jab at new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag claims that “people have been going overly lyrical” about his Feyenoord team.
Slot was announced as the new Liverpool manager at the end of the season after Jurgen Klopp decided to leave the club.
Klopp ended his nine-year spell at the Merseyside club which opened the door for Feyenoord manager Slot to get the Anfield job.
Slot has impressed during his time in Holland with Feyenoord, where he won the league title in 2022-23.
He passed Liverpool’s hiring process and came out on top against other candidates.
However, Ten Hag is not impressed with the new Reds manager and claims that Slot’s Feyenoord team is not as good as people are making it out.
‘People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord,’ the Man United manager said according to Voetbal International.
‘Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.’
PSV won the league title this season under manager Peter Bosz and Ten Hag praised him for his work with the Dutch team.
‘Bosz and his staff did that top-notch,’ Ten Hag added.
‘But the rest of the club is also well put together.
‘PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by such a long distance, even so much better than Feyenoord.’
Ten Hag, on the other hand, thinks Slot will inherit a stronger team and organisational framework at Liverpool this summer than he did at Man United.
“Jurgen and (assistant) Pep Lijnders have left behind a strong foundation,” the Dutchman added.
“He (Slot) comes into a better position than I did at the time when I went to Manchester United from the Netherlands.
“In terms of structure at the club, in terms of balance in the selection.”
The Man United manager faces an uncertain future at the club even after winning the FA Cup against Man City.
If he remains at Old Trafford, the Man United vs Liverpool rivalry is going to be interesting to watch with both the clubs being managed by Dutch managers.
Ten Hag deserves more time at Man United
Slot will be hoping to make an instant impact at Anfield following the departure of Klopp.
Ten Hag deserves another season at Man United after winning a trophy in his second season, just like he did in his first season when he won the League Cup.
He has shown he can grind out results and has the backing of the players at the club.
