Van der Vaart warns Dutch coach of added pressure due to familiar signings
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing criticism for his transfer dealings, with Dutch pundit Rafael Van der Vaart suggesting the coach is putting unnecessary pressure on himself by repeatedly signing players he is familiar with.
Since taking over at Old Trafford in 2022, Ten Hag has been heavily backed in the transfer market, with over £611 million spent on new recruits, according to The Sun. Despite winning the League Cup and FA Cup during his tenure, United experienced their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season, placing eighth.
This summer, the club splashed another £200 million on players such as Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, and Joshua Zirkzee, three of whom have connections to Ten Hag either from his Ajax days or the Dutch league. Van der Vaart believes this strategy could backfire.
“When you bring in many Dutch players or players you’ve previously worked with, the pressure increases when results don’t go your way,” Van der Vaart said in an interview. He also voiced concern over United’s recent loss to Liverpool, comparing it to the North London Derby in terms of intensity. “Now he needs a lot of wins. Then he will survive, but we will have to wait and see.”
Van der Vaart also singled out £43 million signing Matthijs De Ligt, criticizing his development since leaving Ajax. “I’m a little disappointed in his progress. He’s a top player but makes too many mistakes,” the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star said, adding that De Ligt has been “unlucky” and still exhibits wild tendencies from his younger years.
De Ligt, who recently struggled in international appearances for the Netherlands, faced additional scrutiny after a costly error in a Nations League match against Germany. Van der Vaart suggested that the center-back’s international career might be at risk due to his underwhelming performances.
Ten Hag’s tendency to sign players he has managed previously, or those with ties to the Netherlands, has drawn attention. Of the 21 players he has signed since arriving at United, almost half have some connection to the Dutchman, a pattern that could increase scrutiny on the manager if results don’t improve.
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