Scrutiny, drama, stress, wins, losses and one of many largest stars on this planet wanting to depart. Erik ten Hag has skilled all of it in his first three months as Manchester United supervisor.

That ought to go some method to getting ready him for one of many Premier League’s iconic fixtures that when once more guarantees to be a blockbuster.

Like so many, Ten Hag was gripped by these epic encounters within the 2000s between Manchester United and Arsenal, who meet reside on Sky Sports activities on Tremendous Sunday.

“High video games, huge historical past between the 2 golf equipment, each with extremely good gamers and good managers however it’s now about Sunday, it’s new, we’ve got to construct a future,” Ten Hag tells Sky Sports activities Information.

So who was he cheering on throughout these days?

“My workforce in England was all the time Manchester United, I all the time supported this membership, from the previous I cherished watching (David) Beckham, (Paul) Scholes, (Rio) Ferdinand and (Ryan) Giggs, I all the time preferred them.”

What if he had to decide on only one. Would it not be Crew Vieira or Crew Keane? He laughs. “That is clear, no query. Keane.”

No actual shock then the place his loyalties lie relating to the supervisor. “What (Arsene) Wenger did at Arsenal was nice, his philosophy I actually respect that, however Fergie constructed all of this.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s shadow nonetheless looms, however Ten Hag is not going to let it outline his period at this soccer membership.

“I communicate with him, and we’re proud of that, so are his advisors, we’re grateful however now we’ve got to construct a brand new future, that can also be clear,” mentioned the Dutchman.

The previous few weeks have given him a sign of how intense the scrutiny might be as he rebuilds the membership. “Have you ever loved your first 100 days or so?” I ask. “Is it the whole lot you dreamed of?”

He smiles: “I’m not such a dreamer, I’m extra the truth, and I knew it was a giant problem and laborious work. I’ve been so busy I did not discover it has been 100 days, however that may be a good sign.

“What I’m doing is a soccer course of. I like to handle that on and in addition off the pitch. I actually take pleasure in it, it excites and challenges me and it’s good to have this expertise.”

Course of is a phrase that comes up lots throughout our interview – outlined as “a collection of actions taken with a purpose to obtain”, and Ten Hag has already been busy within the motion division. He dropped his captain Harry Maguire and made it clear to Cristiano Ronaldo he has to suit into his imaginative and prescient of the membership and never the opposite method spherical.

“I do have emotion once I make choices, use instinct and emotions however they need to be rational and strategic if you wish to go within the course the place Manchester United wish to go, and all of us need to be on the identical web page,” he mentioned.

“I’ve to be scientific and ask what’s the greatest for the membership and the workforce and what’s the course of and to enhance. I’ve to be clear and clear and to speak.”

I ask how that message has been obtained, and whether or not he would have any considerations about utilizing him within the huge video games.

“He confirmed it final yr and never that way back so now he wants to slot in our method of enjoying, if he does that, he’ll determine the video games due to his capabilities.”

Ronaldo is simply one of many irresistible sub plots this fixture typically throws up. One other is whether or not Antony, who lastly arrived from Ajax to reunite together with his former supervisor this week at a value of £86m, will begin, and together with it start to show he can reside with the stress of being one among United’s and the Premier League’s costliest signings.

Ten Hag has little question. “He can cope with that. He lives for soccer and enjoys it. He has proved himself already he has been within the Champions League, Brazilian nationwide workforce and an Olympic gold medalist.

“He’ll carry temperament and creativity. Additionally for him it’s a new begin and he has to adapt to the workforce, to the Premier League and to the excessive depth, however I’m certain he’ll adapt.”

Antony, together with one other former Ajax man Lisandro Martinez, was a part of greater than a £200m summer time spend by Ten Hag as he seems to construct his workforce in a really completely different method than the one he moulded at Ajax.

Does he really feel below stress given the cash spent? How did it really feel to spend over £200m? “It’s some huge cash,” he concedes however once more he factors to the method. “It’s a part of that and one thing we’ve got to do to stay aggressive. We’ve a squad with potential with good gamers now and now we have to make a workforce.”

Sunday 4th September 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

That workforce might nicely embrace one other of these new faces on Sunday in Casemiro from the beginning. Is he able to be unleashed on Arsenal? “I feel so,” says Ten Hag. “He’s used to enjoying huge video games.”

Which is strictly what this guarantees to be. Ten Hag is aware of how robust the opponents might be as Arsenal, having fun with one thing of a renaissance with 5 wins from 5 within the league this season journey to Previous Trafford.

In contrast to a few of these traditional battles there isn’t a title at stake however each Ten Hag and Mikel Arteta will know much more about the place their workforce rebuilds are at come Sunday night.