Veltman: You could see Ten Hag's qualities from the off

Joel Veltman reckons Manchester United’s recent appointment of Erik Ten Hag is a smart decision by the Red Devils.

Albion’s Dutch defender worked under the current Ajax boss for two-and-a-half years before completing his move to the Amex in 2020.

“You could see Ten Hag’s qualities in the first couple of training sessions,” Veltman said. “He had a vision and he wanted to put that into our team and did a great job. We were playing really well.

“Of course, every gaffer needs his time, but he did well in the end.

“His strength was bringing everyone together, but also tactically and building a team who were all pulling in the same direction. He came in halfway during the 2017/18 season and he did a great job, especially in Europe, because that was our next step.

“In the league we were doing well – we were champions or second sometimes, but European competition was tough for Ajax. We made it to a semi-final of the Champions League, so that says how good a job he did.”

Veltman sees similarities between his former head coach and his current one, Graham Potter.

“On the training pitch he was more like a gaffer – the same as Graham Potter to be honest.  The assistant coaches would do more of the exercises and he’s more like looking all over like analysing more than saying, ‘you have to do this or do this.’

“Every gaffer needs to bring through the youth – to bring somebody up and I think that's what he did as well with Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Lijt.”