Erik ten Hag will experience a special moment tonight as he manages his current team Manchester United against his former playing club, FC Twente, in a Europa League clash. Ten Hag had three separate spells at Twente during his playing career, representing the club from 1989-1990, 1992-1994, and 1996-2002. Reflecting on the upcoming match, Ten Hag expressed his deep connection with the Dutch club.
Ten Hag was McClaren’s assistant at FC Twente, when they came 2nd & qualified for the Champions League.
McClaren also won FC Twente their 1st & only league title a year later.
This will be an emotional game for Erik ten Hag. 😢 pic.twitter.com/ivdX9kguq1
— Man United Fan Club (@manufcnow) September 24, 2024
“Twente has given me a lot. I came through their academy, so for me it’s special. Of all the teams, I follow Twente the most. I watch as a fan, not as an analyst” he said, acknowledging the sentimental side of facing his former team.
As the Red Devils prepare for the match, Ten Hag also shared his thoughts on new signing Noussair Mazraoui, whom he coached during his time at Ajax. “He’s now even a better player than I had in Ajax” Ten Hag said, praising the defender’s growth both as a player and a person. “His development is tremendous and impressive. So I hope that he keeps this process going.”
Mazraoui, who joined United from Bayern Munich for €15 million this summer, shared his thoughts on his new club and the transfer. “Internationally speaking, Manchester United is probably even bigger than Bayern Munich” he said, highlighting the global stature of his new team.
He also acknowledged that Erik ten Hag played a significant role in his decision to join Manchester United, though it wasn’t the only factor. Reflecting on the importance of the manager’s influence, Mazraoui said, “Of course. When you decide to go to a new club, you have to see if the manager and his vision of football suits you. I already knew him and his style suits me. I knew what to expect and he knew what to expect. That made my decision easier, but it wasn’t the only reason I came to this great club.”
On his transfer fee, Mazraoui admitted, “It’s not on me to decide the price, but it works good for me because I was not that expensive. I made a good start, so it is easy for the fans to say I am a good buy this summer!”