A former Manchester United midfielder has opened up about the struggles he faced under Erik ten Hag, shedding light on why his stint at Old Trafford ended so poorly.
Ten Hag, who was dismissed by United in October, managed to secure both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his tenure. However, his time at the helm has since come under scrutiny, with questions raised about player recruitment and tactical decisions.
One of the players who failed to thrive during this period was Donny van de Beek, the former Ajax star who managed just two goals for the club. Van de Beek has now detailed the challenges that derailed his Manchester United career and his subsequent struggles.
Van de Beek Reflects on United Struggles
After a disappointing loan spell at Everton, Van de Beek was sent to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt last season. However, the Dutch midfielder revealed that the move was fraught with difficulties from the outset.
“I came from so far away, needed rhythm and a series of matches, but that was simply not possible. The result was that I started to drive myself crazy. I had to show what I could do in a match, which meant I tried to do way too much and ended up overcomplicating things,” he told Voetbal Primeur.
Adding to his struggles on the pitch, Van de Beek described personal challenges that compounded his difficulties.
“My home situation was anything but pleasant. Estelle was heavily pregnant, and we decided she would stay in England for the birth of our daughter. She was in Manchester, and I was in Frankfurt, alone. My family was in England, things weren’t going well with football—it was a very tough time.
“I often thought, during that period: What am I doing? If you play so little, you lose confidence. That starts to eat away at you, and it’s not good as a player.”
A Fresh Start in Spain
After his underwhelming loan stint in Germany, Van de Beek returned to Manchester United but was soon sold to La Liga side Girona. There, he has found a measure of stability, making 20 appearances and scoring three goals this season as he works to rebuild his career.
Analysis of Van de Beek’s United Move
FourFourTwo noted that Van de Beek’s transfer to Manchester United seemed puzzling from the start, particularly given Bruno Fernandes’ dominance in the number 10 role. Fernandes, who joined United from Sporting, has been a pivotal figure for the club, leaving little room for Van de Beek to make an impact.
United now turn their attention to Premier League action, facing Bournemouth on Sunday as they look to recover from their midweek Carabao Cup exit.
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