ERIK TEN HAG warned Manchester United’s prospective new owners not to blow it like Boehly.
United are facing Chelsea on Thursday at Old Trafford, needing just a point to qualify for the Champions League.
They take on a club in crisis since American businessman Todd Boehly’s takeover last May, which saw a £600million-plus scattergun transfer splurge.
He is also on his third manager — with the fourth arriving this summer in the form of Mauricio Pochettino.
Meanwhile, the Blues have slumped to 12th in the league, winning only one of their last 12 games and losing eight.
United stand on the verge of returning to the Champions League — but are also the subject of a takeover battle between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
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Yet their plans for the future are not clear and boss Ten Hag agreed Chelsea under Boehly was an example of how it can all go wrong.
The Dutchman said: “You have to do the right things. You can have money but have to spend it in a smart way, and you need to have a strategy behind it — otherwise the money doesn’t work.”
United’s strategy has improved under football director John Murtough, in tandem with Ten Hag.
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The Red Devils manager said: “We are now in a good direction — but we can also learn from this season.
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“We must evaluate that after the season and make the right conclusions for the future.”
The pair are already working on transfer targets for next season, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane top of the list.
They have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, which was put to Ten Hag yesterday.
He replied: “When we have news, we will tell you.”
That should not be seen as a teaser suggesting they are in for the Brazilian forward, it is a standard answer from the boss on transfers.
Indeed, having had their fingers burnt with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, that is the sort of Galactico transfer they are trying to avoid.
Ten Hag said: “I want players with the right personalities who are outstanding and contribute on the highest levels — that is what we want.”
A return to the Champions League is now seen as a big step for United. A long way away from the time when they reached three finals of the competition, from 2008 to 2011.
Indeed, since that last one they have not got past the quarter-finals . . . when they have qualified.
Ten Hag said: “We stepped up but have a long way to go.”
Across town, it has been a different story as Manchester City stand on the brink of emulating the Red Devils’ Treble heroics of 1999.
Ten Hag is yet to congratulate City’s Pep Guardiola personally on the first leg of that being achieved with title glory.
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But he said: “I will take this opportunity to congratulate him — the way they won is a demonstration of football.
“Everyone likes the way they play, so attractive, so brilliant.”
United hope to have Marcus Rashford back fit tonight after missing two games.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
