ten Hag's Ajax - 4-3-3 with an inverted right back to create the passing angle out to Antony in isolation on the right but also to maintain compactness in defensive transition. The wide players stay wide to stretch the pitch, there's players between the lines, options in build-up 
You name it, this system has it. The system is conducive to building play, creating chances with combinations out wide, progressing play to players between the lines, penetration RE: numbers attacking the box, compactness in the counterpress & in midfield with the inverted FB.
Then, out of possession, ten Hag's men press like Klopp's Liverpool. The wide players invert to press in a narrow 4-3-3 shape against the CB's with the fullbacks pushing up to press the opposition fullbacks when pushed high up the pitch.
Elite on and off the ball. EXCITING!
Elite on and off the ball. EXCITING!
There are question marks surrounding ten Hag because we don't know how he'll handle the pressure of being a manager at a club like United or how he'll deal with the change in operations transfer-wise off the pitch or how he'll deal with a squad of big personalities.
However, he absolutely deserves a chance to show us all he's capable of dealing with such mental challenges. His Ajax team are superbly balanced profile wise and play elite level football on AND off the ball. He's also rebuilt the team as it's lost its stars.
So, what he needs to show at United is that he can rebuild a team with more responsibility in the transfer market, with less patience from mass media, and more overall pressure/scrutiny within his role. He's got stars to contend with but a squad to rebuild.
Big challenges ahead.
Big challenges ahead.
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