JAAP STAM BELIEVES Erik ten Hag needs backing and patience as the new Manchester United manager oversees a rebuild with the whole world watching.
This will be a summer of change after a chastening season at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils all but certain to miss out on Champions League qualification as numerous players prepare to head for the exit.
Among the widespread changes will be a new man in the dugout as Ajax boss Ten Hag takes charge following the underwhelming interim reign of Ralf Rangnick, who hopes to have a greater impact as advisor.
Stam, a key member of United’s 1999 treble-winning side, hopes his compatriot gets the backing required to turn things around as he makes the move from Holland to the Premier League.
“At the moment they’re struggling,” the former Holland international told the PA news agency. “You see that it’s not going to go how everybody wants them to go, to play.
“You feel that – and that’s me being in Holland the majority of the time – everybody around the world is talking about United, how they’re playing and what they’re doing and that they want to have success.
“Erik has been doing well in Holland and everybody knows that as well. That’s why he got the job at United of course.
“We also need to understand that in the league in Holland the quality of the majority of teams is a lot less than how Ajax is but still you need to produce, so that’s still a very good thing that he’s done.
“Now he’s been given the chance to try to do the same at United and hopefully he can do.
“But he understands, and he knows as well, that the Premier League is totally different – the people, the press, the expectations, the pressure – to how it was in Holland.
“For him that’s going to be a learning curve but it’s very important that the club and the owners are backing him up in terms of personnel.
“United have got good players. Yeah, some of them might need to go but they need to bring in several other players as well, so they can get unity within that squad, play in a certain way.
“The philosophy in how he wants to play is of course very important. That’s why they chose Erik. Hopefully he can show that.”
A number of senior players will leave when their deals expire this summer, while the future is unclear over many others.
United skipper Maguire’s position has been widely debated but Stam believes Ten Hag’s arrival could spark a revival in the world’s most expensive defender.
“I still think Harry is a good player, is a good defender,” the former centre-back said.
“You need to understand, every player – and I’ve had it myself as well – goes through rough spells that he’s having a hard time, the confidence is a bit low, he’s not feeling well, making mistakes.
“But when you cost 100 million and you’re making a mistake, yeah, the pressure on you is a lot more than when you’re costing a few quid.
“He’s played this season good games as well. Having this season now and maybe a new coach coming in, having a fresh start, [he will be] learning a lot from this season as well and what he’s done and what he needs to do.
“Does he need to make a change or not? Maybe having different players next to him or in front of him can help him out as well in terms of feeling more confident, so maybe next season you’ll see a total different player.”
Stam also thinks there is upturn in fortunes for Donny van de Beek, who he worked with when coaching Ajax’s Under-23s and Ten Hag knows even better from their successful time together in Amsterdam.
“There is a talent and everybody has seen that as well,” Stam said of the midfielder, who is ending the season on loan at Everton. “We all know that.
“The only thing is that a talent needs to get confidence. That’s for everybody.
“Every player needs to have confidence otherwise it’s difficult to perform. But that’s also for Donny.
“The other thing is that, yeah, you could put Donny in there and then thinking ‘OK, he’s going to produce’, but he also needs to have players around him who will make life easier for him as well to produce.”
United’s frustrating season comes to a close at Crystal Palace on 22 May – the day after Stam lines up for a legends team against their Liverpool counterparts at Old Trafford raising money for the Manchester United Foundation.
“That makes it extra nice to play Liverpool and hopefully they turn up as well with a good side, with players that we faced as well back in the day,” he added.
“Everybody’s looking forward to that. If you can make choices about who to play, then I think everybody would have said Liverpool.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Thank Christ for that , the longest bloody goodbye in the history of the planet !!! Finally able to watch a match without commentators verbally making love to him throughout the entire game
Shut up!! I’m sick of reading stupid comments like this… This man has put everything into any jersey he has worn over d past 15 year and never asked for any praise. just because he got a fitting farewell to his international career 2 months ago, some people think that this long goodbye has gone on forever… That’s just the way this season has ended, he didn’t intentionally plan it this way so that people could loathe more praise for him. And of course commentators etc should pay tribute him, if u open your eyes and recognise what he has achieved for his country and the sport, u wouldn’t make such an ignorant comment like this. And all u can say is that your delighted to see him go off injured. Idiot!!
Blah blah blah blah !!! We seen and heard it all before the reality is everyone is sick to the teeth of hearing about it , instead of doing the decent thing and quietly slipping off at the end if last season or even declaring it after today’s match he did it half way through this season a season he has played poorly ( bar maybe the away game to Northampton ) and been injured for the majority of it , today being farcical. Nothing personal against the guy just sick of the longest goodby in the history of mankind
Lol couldn’t agree more.
That was for Luke’s post!!
Here here! Embarrassing how the media goes on about him
Douglas
I hate to see your comment when you reach your teens!!!!
Bad in the Italy game too I presume?! Appreciate the man. Ireland is a specialist nation in begrudgery.
The Italy game ok he was involved in the three tries but isn’t that what he should be doing seeing he is the greatest player that ever played the game , Italy the mighty Italy . Oh don’t forget he gifted them their try as well with a world class clearance . Sure two good games a season is acceptable to you then , all you have to do is look at his performance for the lions to see he just went a season too far , don’t get me wrong he was a great centre but this season seemed selfish in my opinion
Here flash how many times did you play for Munster? Go on tell us again, we all like a good laugh
Luke go on name us one other Irish rugby player who was better?
What ???? Firstly what has my rugby playing days got to do with it and secondly what has Munster got to do with the Irish media and BOD’s never ending retirement saga . Jesus wept that is by far the worst comment ever posted since social media began
Well flash at least he’d have an excuse for his comments then !!
With all the man love emanating from you I’d say you probably play for the Emerald Warriors !!
You’re hilarious Bob !
Yep and your not …
Original – don’t give up the day job if you have the intelligence for one.
Ok Chris I think you need to read the comments again , I didn’t state that he wasn’t or was the greatest Irish player ever . Other people are !!! My point has been made several times in my other comments so instead of getting upset and emotional have a read of them first please. I take it you are in the same primary school class as Douglas who also got a bit carried away tonight , maybe you can both meet up and cry over a ribena remembering BOD’s greatest moments
Yea great come back that … Your hardy in any position to question anyone else’s intelligence
LOL !!!
Looking forward to your goodbye post
Sad way for him to go, thankfully got his fairytale in Paris.
Jeez Ian Madigan got SOME reception when he came on!
Cruel end to his career. That’s the nature of the sport though.
He will still get man of the match..
Least thats the end of him now…
I’m embarrassed for the bellends on this app , we had two of the worlds most influential players in sport from this country in Roy Keane and Brian O Driscoll and the amount of negativity towards them both here really is truly shocking. Call yourselves Irish !!!!
HA HA!!!!!!!!!!
Judging by your photo I don’t think you’ve got anything to laugh at !!!!