Erik ten Hag heaped praise on compatriot and domestic rival Arne Slot, insisting he will fit in well at Liverpool after he replaced Jurgen Klopp.
The times are changing in the Premier League once again, with some new managerial appointments set to bring something new to the pitch. The biggest managerial appointment has been that of Arne Slot at Liverpool, who has the mammoth task of replacing the formidable Jurgen Klopp, who spent nine years at Anfield.
Slot has been relishing the challenge of entering the Premier League, something he could have done a year earlier when Tottenham were eager to appoint him. However, he has landed a bigger club by waiting for a year, with Liverpool choosing him over other candidates, although he wasn’t their first choice for the job.
By becoming Liverpool manager, he can also resume his rivalry with compatriot Erik ten Hag, who manages Manchester United. There was a period when the former Ajax boss was close to losing his job, but INEOS has since retained him and offered a new contract.
With the two Dutchmen and former Eredivisie rivals managing arguably two of the biggest Premier League sides, it’s the beginning of a new rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool. Ten Hag, however, looked beyond the club rivalry and insisted his and Arne Slot’s presence is good for Dutch football in his comments to AD via Sport Witness.
Ten Hag said, “We’ve played against each other before, of course, but I think that’s really great. Also for Dutch football, for our coach training. I think the fact that there are now two Dutch managers at the helm at Liverpool and Manchester United is fantastic for our football.”
Meanwhile, when asked about Arne Slot and his appointment at Liverpool, Ten Hag insisted his compatriot was a very good match for the Merseysiders. Ten Hag continued, “No, we haven’t had contact yet, but that will happen. It is fantastic what Arne has achieved at Feyenoord, how he has helped that club get back on track. And the football that Liverpool prefers to play also suits Arne Slot completely. I think it’s a very good match.”
The two teams will be aiming to achieve higher things this season and have already started their forays in the transfer market. While Manchester United have been aggressive in their approach after bringing in a few singings already this summer, Liverpool are taking a more cautious approach.
Given the old rivalry between the two sides, and now their managers’ from their time in the Eredivisie, this season may have one of the finest games between Liverpool and Manchester United. Only time will tell who might come on top, as this campaign will mark the beginning of the Slot-Ten Hg rivalry.
