Under-pressure Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has conceded that he will never be able to implement his previous style of football with Ajax at Old Trafford.
The 53-year-old emerged as one of Europe's most respected coaches thanks to his transformation of the Dutch giants, who reached the semi-finals of the 2018-19 Champions League under his wing.
While on the books with Ajax, Ten Hag's team were the dominant force of Dutch football and played an eye-catching brand of attacking football, scoring a staggering 98 goals in the 2021-22 Eredivisie campaign.
A positive first season in Manchester saw Ten Hag win silverware in the form of the EFL Cup and lead Manchester United to third place in the Premier League, before reinforcing his attacking ranks with the signings of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount this summer.
However, the Red Devils have flattered to deceive in all areas of the field since the new season began, suffering five defeats from their opening 10 games for the first time in a top-flight season since 1986.
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During Sunday's humiliating 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford, Ten Hag's team had just 39% of the ball and seven shots - three of which were on target - compared to the champions' 21 attempts, 10 of which found the mark.
With four goals in all tournaments this term, defensive midfielder Casemiro is the Red Devils' top scorer, closely followed by Scott McTominay and Hojlund, who have three apiece.
However, Hojlund - who cost Man United £72m - is yet to score his first Premier League goal, while Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Mount have just one between them.
When Ten Hag arrived at Man United, he brought with him the expectation that the Red Devils would copy Ajax's brand of offensive football, especially with the Dutchman convincing Antony and Lisandro Martinez to follow him to Old Trafford, but he has now admitted that replicating that style is a pipe dream.
When asked by Viaplay whether he would be able to implement his former philosophy, Ten Hag replied: "Never. We will never play that football. Because those were different players.
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"This is also not why I came here. We are playing different football than I showed at Ajax because I have to, because I can't play the same way. The players decide how you play.
"Ajax has a very typical and characteristic style of play, with Manchester United I will always show different football, I did so last year as well. We play much more direct football here because I have the players for that here."
Man United's home humbling at the hands of their rivals leaves them eighth in the Premier League table after 10 matches, 11 points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur and eight points worse off than fourth-placed Liverpool.
Nevertheless, Ten Hag is understood to retain the complete backing of the club's hierarchy, who remain of the view that Man United are heading in the right direction under the Dutchman.
The Red Devils take a break from Premier League action this week, as they host Newcastle United in a repeat of last year's EFL Cup final in Wednesday's fourth-round tie at Old Trafford.
Ben Knapton
