legend Jaap Stam has told Erik ten Hag he must win the Premier League title at Old Trafford if he is to survive as manager.
Ten Hag, 52, is believed to be joining United in the summer after talks between the club’s board and the Dutchman last month were successful.
The Red Devils have not secured the title since 2013 as they’ve struggled to match the heights of the past following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement nine years ago.
However, Stam – who won the treble with Untied back in 1999 – says Ten Hag must overhaul and Liverpool at the top of the league to be a hit at the Theatre of Dreams.
‘The pressure at United is much greater,’ Stam said via . ‘The club management can be patient but that does not mean you get time from the outside world.
‘The title and the are expected. That is no different under a new coach.’
Ten Hag will arrive from Ajax where he has won two Eredivisie titles and two Dutch cups since joining the Amsterdam club in 2017.
The Dutchman emerged as one of Europe’s top managers after Ajax’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.
United and Ajax are obvious are both among the most successful club sides in the history of their countries, but Stam believes the demands of a global superpower like United and the rigours of the Premier League will be a huge step up for Ten Hag whose previous jobs include managing Utrecht and Bayern Munich’s reserve team.
He added: ‘There is a world of difference between the Netherlands and England.
‘Ajax has by far the largest budget in the Eredivisie. But there, a trainer is mainly judged on European competitions.
‘In England there are three high-level matches every week, with good players at every club and sometimes you have to change the way you play.’
One of Ten Hag’s priorities at United will be to end the club’s five-year trophy drought which stretches back to the Europa League triumph of 2017.
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