"If we had been given more time, we would have succeeded" - Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Hake following exit from club
Former Manchester United assistant coach Rene Hake has claimed that Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff did not receive enough time at the club. The Dutch coach spent only four months on the staff of the former Ajax manager before they were unceremoniously sent packing from the club.
Hake was in charge of Dutch club Go Ahead Eagles when an offer came from Manchester United for him to work as an assistant to Ten Hag. The Dutchman accepted the offer, joining the club as an assistant alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy in the summer.
Rene Hake left Old Trafford with Erik ten Hag while van Nistelrooy stayed on in interim capacity and the former Utrecht coach has now broken his silence on his stint at the club.
In an interview with Voetbal International, he revealed his sadness at their dismissal while defending the choice of players recruited by his former boss, saying:
"Erik’s dismissal and my departure from Manchester have been crazy. Over those four months at United, I can fill four VI Christmas specials. The fact is that we have not won enough. It’s just very sad. I also honestly think that if we had been given more time, we would have succeeded. Becoming champion has never been the goal, reaching the Champions League is."
He continued:
"It is often said and written that Erik spent that money and that he brought in all those players. But that doesn’t make sense. Manchester United has a scouting force of 40 people or so. Erik did not deal with transfers on his own and you now also see that Martínez, De Ligt, Onana and Mazraoui are just regular players. They are just good football players, that has nothing to do with an Ajax past.”
Rene Hake's defence of Erik ten Hag comes just days after an interview emerged of another former assistant coach Benni McCarthy. In the video, McCarthy said that the Dutch manager preferred to use players who he signed, citing Antony and Amad Diallo as examples.
Manchester United began search for new manager after Erik ten Hag extension - Reports
Manchester United began to search for a new manager immediately after they offered former manager Erik ten Hag a contract extension, as per Telegraph Sport. The Red Devils sacked the Dutchman after two full seasons in charge despite Ten Hag winning silverware in each season.
The Dutch tactician led Manchester United to win the FA Cup in the 2023-24 season but had his position reviewed after his side finished eighth in the league. After a lengthy review, which included consideration of other managerial options, the club decided to extend his contract by one year until 2026.
Telegraph Sport now reports that the club had the mind to part ways with the former Ajax manager, even at the point of his extension. They did, eventually, on October 28, with the Red Devils in 14th place in the league table.