As Manchester United prepare to face Tottenham, managers Erik ten Hag and Ange Postecoglou express differing views on the importance of trophies for success.
- Postecoglou emphasises the need for sustainable success, cautioning against the belief that winning trophies alone defines a good manager.
- Ten Hag acknowledges the high expectations at Manchester United, where winning trophies is a crucial aspect of the club’s identity.
- Postecoglou highlights the multifaceted challenges of being a top-level manager, including the need for identity, aesthetics, and legacy.
- Ten Hag stresses the importance of achieving Champions League qualification and coping with constant scrutiny.
Ange Postecoglou believes that success as a top-level manager involves more than just winning trophies. He aims for ‘sustainable success’ at Tottenham and views Manchester United as an example of why trophies alone do not alleviate the pressure on managers. Postecoglou states, “It’s a trap you can fall into, thinking by winning something everybody is going to love me and think I’m doing a great job. That doesn’t exist.”
Postecoglou is focused on building a team capable of year-on-year success. He articulates the increasing demands on managers, noting, “Success isn’t guaranteed but if you build something that gives you the opportunity on a year-on-year basis then you’ve got more chance of creating a period where the club can see themselves as a contender.”
He underscores the complexity of the managerial role, explaining that merely winning competitions is insufficient without a well-defined identity, aesthetics, and legacy. Postecoglou remarks, “It seems like success is not enough if you don’t have identity. Identity is then not enough if it’s not followed by the aesthetics. Aesthetics are not enough if it’s not followed by legacy.”
Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, recognises the premium placed on winning trophies at Manchester United. The club’s ambition to compete at the highest levels, including the Champions League, necessitates success in both domestic and European competitions. Ten Hag asserts, “We have to win trophies. That’s what this club stands for. The highest platform, this club has the ambition to play on the highest platform.”
Despite the expectations, Ten Hag remains focused on team performance and development. He notes the recent challenges and improvements, stating, “We are going in a good direction in the last couple of weeks in many aspects of football. Now it’s about being more efficient and scoring more goals because that will win you games.” Ten Hag also respects criticism but keeps a measured approach, saying, “For me, it’s stay clinical and see where the team is, which areas we have to improve, stay methodical and guide the team in the right pathway.”
As Manchester United and Tottenham prepare to clash, the differing managerial philosophies on success and trophies underscore the multifaceted nature of football management.
