Ten Hag Blasts Southgate’s Tactics in England’s Win Over Serbia

Southgate’s Approach Under Fire

Erik ten Hag took a subtle jab at Gareth Southgate’s tactical approach during England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia on Sunday, despite the strategy closely resembling his own methods at Manchester United. The match in Gelsenkirchen saw the Three Lions kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a win, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header.

While England dominated possession, they struggled to create significant chances. Notably, captain Harry Kane touched the ball only once in the first half. Although England’s performance improved in the second half, with Kane nearly scoring with a header, Ten Hag was unimpressed.

Ten Hag’s Analysis

Speaking as a pundit for Dutch television channel NOS, Ten Hag commented on Southgate’s tactics: “It’s the vision of the manager [Southgate]. England will take a 1-0 lead, then he [Southgate] decides to start gambling with making his team compact and relying on moments for the remaining minutes of the game.”

Ten Hag’s remarks appeared to critique a style of play similar to his own at Manchester United, where his team often relies on key moments to secure victories.

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Ten Hag’s Future at Manchester United

Despite speculation that last month’s FA Cup final might be Ten Hag’s final match in charge, Manchester United has decided to retain him, with potential talks for a new contract on the horizon. Ten Hag admitted that the club had considered former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who left Bayern Munich this summer, as a replacement.

“Here in Holland this [talking to another manager] is not done, in fact, it’s not even allowed here,” Ten Hag explained. “But in England, they have different rules and laws. INEOS took their time. They are new in football, it’s normal to reflect on the season. It’s no secret that they talked with multiple candidates. Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”

Injury Update on Luke Shaw

Ten Hag also provided an update on Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, indicating that he will be fit to return for England in the knockout stages of Euro 2024.

As the tournament progresses, both England and Manchester United fans will be watching closely to see how these tactical decisions and managerial dynamics unfold.