Eric Ten Haag will take over as United's next manager and he undoubtedly faces a daunting task if he wants to bring his glory days back to Old Trafford. The Reds have gone through a dismal season and will not win a major trophy in five years — that will be Tenhag's task. When he arrives, he will ask for adjustments to the team, some of whom will be in a better position than others. So who will benefit from this managerial appointment and who will be in trouble?
The obvious immediate beneficiary will be Van der Beek, who spent two brilliant seasons under Tenhag at the John Cruyff Arena. Van der Beek was not the starter when Tenhag initially took over Ajax, but the midfielder earned his trust with a series of outstanding performances and his prowess was evident in the Dutch club's glorious Champions League of 2019. Since joining Manchester United, Van der Beek has rarely contributed well on the pitch, and everton on loan has not met expectations, with the Toffee struggling with relegation and stability. However, with the arrival of Tenhag, and Van der Beek's performance at Ajax, it is believed he will be able to help the 24-year-old and finally give him the opportunity to shine at Old Trafford.
Sancho's performances at Old Trafford are getting better and better, and he is one of United's brightest players in this season full of contradictions. That bodes well for Tenhag, who relies on explosive wingers and the coach has a proven track record of working with direct attacking players like Sancho. Neves, Ziyeh and Anthony have all performed well under Ajaxtenhag, while the Britons may have performed similarly at Manchester United. With a young offensive lineup, Sancho can get better and become one of the best players in the league.
One of the similarities between Ajax and Manchester United is that they both value their academies, as evidenced by their excellent predecessors. At Ajax, Tenhag worked well with academy graduates such as De Ligt, Grevinbage and Timbuel, and was able to do the same when he had a great team at Old Trafford. Elanga has already had a number of opportunities this season under Lonnick, with James Garner, Hannibal Mejebry, Zidane Iqbal and Alejandro Ganacgio in the upcoming season. With the club's future in mind, they will have plenty of time to hang out with the first team and gradually integrate into more regular training.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo was United's top scorer this season, his second experience at United did not go as smoothly as he had hoped. The 37-year-old is often criticised for his lack of presence when pressed high, and his age could end up exhausting him, meaning he won't be relied on by a coach who asks to go all in with and without the ball. Given his salary and status, Tenhag will most likely want to get rid of it altogether, rather than having players like Ronaldo sit on the bench for most of the season. In addition, according to wide reports, United are looking for a new young striker, which could mean the end of Ronaldo's era at Old Trafford.
One of the main characteristics of Ajax, taught by Tenhag, is verticality and mobility, and McTominay and Nemanja Matic are not good enough on either point. Given his age, it seems unlikely that Nemanja Matic will spend much time at Old Trafford – his contract expires in 2023 – and Scott McTominay's role next season could be marginalized as he is still lacking in advancing with the ball. Both players have certain characteristics, and a few years ago, Nemanja Matic might even have been useful to Tenhag, but it seems unlikely that both of them today will adapt to the system of the new coach.
De Gea is a great goalkeeper – arguably United's best player of the season – but he may not be the goalkeeper Tenhag wants. When it comes to forming a team with a possession-based team, Tenhag may not think De Gea is a suitable player, as espanyol's poor foot skills could hinder the team's progress. De Gea was eliminated from the Spanish national team by Luis Enrique for similar reasons, and although he was a good goalkeeper, he was not an all-rounder. Recent news suggests a new goalkeeper is coming, which could mark the end of De Gea's 11-year career at Old Trafford.