Erik ten Hag has fired a thinly veiled dig at incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot, claiming that the former Feyenoord boss may be overhyped.
Slot is set to take charge as the Reds’ new manager on June 1, succeeding Jurgen Klopp after the German announced he would be leaving the merseyside outfit earlier this year.
The 45-year-old has been in charge at Feyenoord since 2021 and has guided the Dutch side to success in recent years, winning the club’s first Eredivisie title since 2017 last season, before clinching the Dutch Cup in April.
The former midfielder, who played for PEC Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and NAC Breda during his career, has been labelled a workaholic, with Klopp notably endorsing the incoming Reds boss as a ‘good coach and a good guy.’
Yet, appears Ten Hag, who is currently waiting to hear whether he will remain in charge at Old Trafford next season, was seemingly less impressed with the work Slot has done at Feyenoord this season, claiming that PSV Eindhoven, this year’s Dutch champions, were better.
Erik ten Hag (right) appeared to take a dig at incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot suggesting that he was overhyped
Slot (centre) has guided Feyenoord to the Dutch Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup in the past two seasons
The Dutchman (pictured) will officially start work at Liverpool on June 1, but has big boots to fill as he replaces outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp
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‘People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord,’ the Man United boss said per The Mirror.
‘Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.’
PSV, who are led by Dutch coach Peter Bosz, finished seven points clear of Feyenoord at the top of the table, with Ten Hag’s old side, Ajax, failing to qualify for the Champions League as they slumped to fifth.
‘Bosz and his staff did that top-notch,’ Ten Hag added. ‘But the rest of the club is also well put together.
‘PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by such a long distance, even so much better than Feyenoord.’
It seems Slot has wasted no time in getting settled into life in the UK, with the Dutchman being pictured in Liverpool earlier this week ahead of his move.
He will inherit a squad that has been crafted by Klopp over the past few years, which features a breadth of world class talent and some brilliant young stars.
Klopp (pictured) will leave Liverpool after nearly nine years at the helm, having announced his decision to move on from the club earlier this season
Amid a well-documented injury crisis this season, Klopp was lauded for his commitment to bringing through several academy stars, who more than impressed on the big stage – ultimately helping his side win the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool had named eight academy stars in their EFL Cup-winning squad, including Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Conor Bradley, Ben Doak and Lewis Koumas – all of whom are now being pipped to spearhead the post-Klopp era at Liverpool.
‘Jurgen and (assistant) Pep Lijnders have left behind a strong foundation. He (Slot) comes into a better position than I did at the time when I went to Man United from the Netherlands,’ Ten Hag said in an interview with Dutch news outlet Voetball International.
Slot (right) has been sighted for the first time in Liverpool since his move to the United Kingdom
Klopp made sure that the Anfield faithful were excited about their new manager, chanting his name as part of his farewell speech
Ten Hag (pictured) is waiting to hear the results of Man United’s season review amid questions over his job security
‘In terms of structure at the club, in terms of balance in the selection. Last year they (Liverpool) had a transition in the team.
‘Then guys like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left. Last season at Liverpool, they also had a bit of the year we had now, with a lot of injuries.’
Meanwhile, his future at United remains uncertain, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Man United’s leadership team set to undertake a season review this week that will also assess Ten Hag’s suitability to continue in his current position.
Since arriving at the club in 2022, Ten Hag has now won two major honours with United, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but faces questions over his candidacy, after United have endured a torrid season, finishing eighth in the Premier League – their lowest league placing since the 1989-90 season.
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