Gary Neville disagrees with Jamie Carragher that Erik ten Hag at Manchester United faces similar problems as Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Carragher believes Ajax’s coach has a slightly easier job of bringing United back to the top compared to Klopp’s early years at the helm the Reds† “A top manager gets a top club back on track within a few years,” says the former Liverpool defender.
Ten Hag will take over from interim manager Ralf Rangnick after this season and has the clean task of helping United to win prizes. Where the Ajax coach in Amsterdam is heading for the third national title in four years, United has been waiting for a championship in the Premier League since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. It must be strange for United to qualify for the Champions League. The English superpower is sixth, five points behind Arsenal. The Gunners also played two games less, just like number five Tottenham Hotspur.
Which means that Ten Hag will most likely have to settle for participation in the Europa League next season, similar to the situation Klopp encountered when he took over from Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in 2015. The Reds were disappointingly tenth at the time and had an aged squad that struggled with form and confidence. Klopp then helped the club to fourth place and reached the Champions League final a year later. Since then, Liverpool has won the Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup. This season, Klopp’s team will compete for three more prizes.
Will Erik ten Hag ‘do a Jurgen Klopp’ at Man Utd? †@GNev2† @Carra23 and Roy Keane look at the MASSIVE job the Dutchman is about to walk into at #MUFC – and how it compares to the challenge Klopp faced when he arrived at Liverpool ?? pic.twitter.com/1qFGSc915o
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 2, 2022
“I think they’re very similar, really,” explains Carragher Sky Sports the situations of Klopp and Ten Hag side by side. “Maybe it was a more difficult job for Klopp, because Ten Hag has a lot more money at his disposal at United. A top manager gets a top club back on track within a few years. People are talking about how long it takes Ten Hag to get it on track.” It is said that Liverpool and Manchester City are five years ahead, someone even said they are ten years ahead,” said Carragher.
“I think that’s pure nonsense. A top manager gets a top club back on track within a few years. That’s not to say you’ll win the title or the Champions League, but you’ll be able to get United back on track so they can compete with the rest.” Monday Night Football, disagrees with Carragher’s words that Klopp had a tougher job. “I don’t think so. There wasn’t a club that stood out when Klopp came in. You come to United now with the knowledge that Guardiola, Klopp and Tuchel’s foundations are very deep,” Neville said.
“The task that Ten Hag has is huge. But it is more comparable to that of Gérard Houllier and Rafael Benítez,” Neville concludes. Klopp is still in the race with Liverpool for the title, the Champions League and the FA Cup. On Tuesday evening, the German defends a 2-0 lead against Villarreal in the semi-final of the Champions League. The FA Cup final is scheduled for May 14 against Chelsea, while they are only one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League with four games to go.