Erik ten Hag says his emphasis on proactive football stems from his period working with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.
Erik ten Hag said “It is too much to tell, it’s a lot, really too short to bring that in 30 seconds to tell it. The best bit? About proactive, be proactive, play football. Top football is about results but you want to do it in a certain way, be proactive, adventure, also entertain, top football is about winning and also entertaining the fans, top football you play for the fans. Of course, if you want to win trophies you have to compete with the best and City are the best, so we look forward to challenging them.”
Guardiola suggested in midweek he was considering some “ridiculous” tactical options for the derby, dismissed by some as mind games. Sir Alex Ferguson engaged in verbal jousting but Ten Hag is uninterested.
Erik ten Hag said “I don’t care about that, what he is thinking, but he did it more often and we are prepared for that if he does different things. We have our principles and our rules from football. More important is how, so what means brave? Always it is a way of playing, in possession, so you give each other options, scanning the right moment to situation, taking the right decisions, go forward where it’s possible, defending, be front foot, be aggressive. That means what is brave. As a team, act with togetherness, so have the same ideas in every situation. That means bravery.”
Ten Hag was the coach of Bayern Munich II between 2013-15, Guardiola’s first two years in Bavaria, and the pair will encounter each other for only the second time in the 189th Manchester derby. Guardiola has only lost twice as City manager at Old Trafford and Ten Hag conceded United were “taught a lesson” in their 6-3 thrashing at the Etihad on October 2.
