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Back in January 2015, Manchester United splashed out €35 million to sign an exciting 25-year-old French holding midfielder who had been through the English leagues to get to the top. That man was Morgan Schneiderlin. All the way from League One to the Premier League, Schneiderlin had stood out for Southampton and enhanced his reputation in the English game. His time at Man United probably didn’t last as long as he would have wanted, but three trophies in just two seasons is not to be scoffed at. Albeit, despite playing in the earlier rounds, Schneiderlin had already been sold to Everton by the time the Red Devils lifted the EFL Cup and Europa League in the 2016/17 season.

“At Manchester United, people scrutinise your matches and your every move off the pitch.” the Frenchmen remembers. Schneiderlin at the age of 34 has just spent the season playing for Greek Super League side AE Kifisias. Last week the news was announced, that despite there being a pretty public ongoing search for a new manager, that Erik ten Hag would in fact keep his job at Old Trafford. Perhaps the FA Cup triumph inspired a change of heart. Perhaps the club just couldn’t find anyone better. Dutchman ten Hag, who understandably could be feeling put out by the way the club handled it, has been strongly backing himself since the decision, “They eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.” Former midfielder of the club Schneiderlin has been speaking exclusively to Transfermarkt about ten Hag, what it’s like to play for Man United and much more.

“One of the two or three biggest clubs in the world without a doubt”

The pressure on ten Hag seemed relentless last season. As the club stumbled from one bad result and bad performance to the next, for a long time it has felt like he is hanging on to his job by a thread. Schneiderlin reveals the strain he felt playing for Man United: “There’s pressure, as there is at every big club you play for. At Manchester United, people scrutinise your matches and your every move off the pitch. But there’s no more pressure than if you’re playing for Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool or whatever. But having experienced it from the inside, and knowing everything there is to do, particularly in commercial terms, this is one of the two or three biggest clubs in the world, without a doubt.” The Frenchmen played 47 matches for United, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

Schneiderlin also claimed that this summer ten Hag’s team could actually be in a better position to sign top players than some of the better performing clubs purely because of their stature, “Even if the current sporting results don’t prove me right. I think clubs like Liverpool or Manchester City recruit good players, but they’re not necessarily better at the start than what Manchester United can recruit.” Recruitment has been an issue for a while at Old Trafford with several big money signings not quite working out, something Schneiderlin feels has held the club back: “Those other clubs have found a philosophy, a dynamic that means the players fit straight into the mould. At Man United, since the Ferguson era, I get the impression that they haven’t found their philosophy, what the club should be.”

Indeed, as you can see above, since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013, they haven’t been afraid to splash the cash. In fact, in that time frame, Man United have the highest net spend in world football –  €1.31 billion in the red. The Frenchmen Schneiderlin continued to expand on the recruitment issues at the club: “In Manchester United, I get the impression that they don’t target players for specific qualities that will go straight into the squad. They target very good players who have had very good seasons, so they buy them. But the players are kind of put there and expected to perform miracles.” You could argue this has been the case with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro and Antony in recent seasons who arrived for a combined transfer fee of €250.65m and haven’t consistently performer. “So in my opinion, that’s why there are so many players struggling at Manchester United today.” Schneiderlin added.

Is ten Hag the man to take Man United forward?

Many people felt that when ten Hag lifted the FA Cup trophy at Wembley, after beating rivals Man City in the final, it would be his last act as Man United boss. Perhaps it was his trophy record that kept him in the job more than his style of play – something questioned by Schneiderlin, “It’s all about dynamics. When you make this kind of decision [to stick with a manger or sack him], you have to look at the dynamics, the progress of a team and the quality of its play. Personally, frankly, when I watch Manchester United play today, I can’t recognise a style.”

It’s an issue that has been prominent under ten Hag. His Man United team became synonymous with the counter-attack and relying on quick transitions. According to Fbref, Man United had an average possession of just 50.6% in the Premier League last season – the 10th best in the league level with Fulham. Discussing their style further, Schneiderlin continued, “Sometimes I see that they’re good at transitions, sometimes they try to keep the ball, but I don’t see anything that catches my eye. I don’t feel anything.” At a club like Man United there is an expectancy to play on the front foot and dominate the ball – it’s likely to be something ten Hag will need to improve on next season, as he hopes for a less injury-ravaged season.

Right now, it does appear he has the backing of the board, but for how long, who knows. Schneiderlin believes they must have seen some behind-the-scenes positives to keep him on, “Maybe there’s a dynamic, maybe there’s something that’s being created in training, in group life, that the club can sense. If that’s the case, they can continue with Ten Hag. But today, it’s clear that in terms of pure results and quality of play, I don’t see anything extraordinary.” Man United will kick off their 2024/25 Premier League season against Fulham at Old Trafford in the campaign’s very first match. ten Hag will have to some work to do before then.