Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has already taken aim at incoming Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
Slot is set to take over from Jurgen Klopp in the Anfield dugout from June 1. The Reds confirmed Slot’s appointment as head coach earlier this month, just a day after Klopp took charge of his final match as Liverpool manager.
The last three seasons have seen Slot take charge of Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. He guided the club to the league title last season and won the KNVB Cup this term after defeating NEC Nijmegen in the final.
Feyenoord finished second in the Eredivisie this season, seven points behind title winners PSV Eindhoven who are managed by Peter Bosz. Ten Hag was left impressed by what PSV did this season and seemingly taken issue with the praise that has been directed at Feyenoord under Slot.
“People have been going overly lyrical about Feyenoord,” said Ten Hag, via The Mirror.
“Feyenoord were steady this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven were two classes better in all areas. In terms of dominating the ball, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.
“Bosz and his staff did that top notch, but the rest of the club is also well put together. PSV Eindhoven were better than the rest by such a long distance, even so much better than Feyenoord.”
Slot will take charge of his first pre-season as Liverpool head coach this summer. He will be joined by Sipke Hulshoff and Ruben Peeters as part of his backroom team at Anfield going into next season.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, has seen his future at Man United be the subject of intense speculation. Reports in recent days have claimed that Ten Hag may be dismissed from his role as manager of the Old Trafford club, despite overseeing the win over Manchester City in last weekend’s FA Cup final.