After two troubled seasons for Donny van de Beek, Manchester United fans will be hoping that with the arrival of his former manager Erik Ten Hag, the Dutch midfielder can showcase his best on a regular basis.
For reasons unknown to the many, van de Beek’s time at Old Trafford has been difficult to say the least. He has rarely been entrsued with a starting position, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring the midfield duo of Scott McTominay and Fred.
The Dutch international then went on loan for the second half of the 21/22 campaign to work under Frank Lampard, but struggled for fitness and failed to put consistent performances in.
Although he has a contract with the Red Devils until 2025, it feels as if this is a make or break situation for the central midfielder. If even Ten Hag, who had van de Beek in his side at Ajax and turned him into one of Europe’s next big prospects, cannot raise his levels next season, then it appears nothing will.
Ten Hag is known for operating a 4-3-3 system, which, as a start, is going to benefit van de Beek with another midfield position being up for grabs. Under Solskjaer, with a 4-2-3-1 system being deployed, van de Beek found it nigh on impossible to impose himself ahead of either McTominay or Fred.
But in Ten Hag’s system, in which van de Beek is of course familiar with, he should have far more opportunities to impress. It is likely that Manchester United recruit an out-and-out defensive midfielder this summer, with again former teammate Frenkie de Jong being lined up, which will allow two more progressive midfielders to go in front.
Manchester United fans are wanting to see players fight for the shirt next sesaon, especially after such a disappointment of a campaign. It was not just the results that let United’s fans down, but the way in which players were at walking pace and appeared to have given up after Christmas.
Van de Beek needs to come back in pre-season and lay down a marker in front of Ten Hag. Should he do that, he has absolutely every opportunity to begin to build some rhythm in his performances and garner regular game time.
All players are going to have a clean slate when returning back to the club for pre-season at the end of June, and so it is paramount for van de Beek to take this opportunity and lay down a marker from the start.
Ten Hag will want players in the squad that already understand his methodology and can spread what the coach is looking for in the dressing room. It is why AFC Ajax players, such as Jurrien Timber and Antony, are being linked for a summer move to Old Trafford.
Van de Beek can become one of those players due to his rich history under Ten Hag and unlock his potential. Manchester United fans were excited to see the Dutch international perform at Old Trafford at the high level he previously showed, but it has been a turbulent two years for the midfielder.
Now, under his former boss, van de Beek can resume where he left off when leaving Holland and become that creative midfield link Manchester United fans were promised.