Liverpool and Manchester United have made differing starts to the season under Dutch coaches Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag, and one former player has revealed whom he prefers
Liverpool will be confident they have the best Dutch coach in the Premier League, with Arne Slot outperforming Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United so far in his tenure. But Eredivisie veteran Mark Diemers has a rare perspective on the matter having worked under both managers.
The Camburr midfielder had a brief stint playing in Ten Hag’s Utrecht team before playing for Slot at Feyenoord. And the 30-year-old has shared his insight on who’s better at their job, with one losing out “on a human level.”
Slot, 46, has lifted Liverpool to the top of the Premier League in what’s been a seamless switch since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. On the flip side, United are enduring another sluggish season under Ten Hag, with the sheen of last term’s FA Cup win already dulled.
Both coaches earned their stripes as champions of the Eredivisie prior to moving across the Channel. Not all managers are equal, however, and Diemers expressed a clear preference for one over the other due to their ability to connect with players.
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In an interview with ESPN Netherlands (via The Mirror) earlier this year, Diemers gave his informed opinion on who was the superior candidate: “I choose Arne Slot. I can only talk from my time. I found Ten Hag insanely good tactically, so were his training sessions.
“But I just didn’t think he was very good, at that time, on a human level. But that was already six or seven years ago. I thought Slot was a lot stronger on a human level.
“Look at what kind of clubs [Ten Hag] has worked at, so he must also have qualities on a human level. I still have contact with him via WhatsApp. Then he also comes across as very friendly to me. He will undoubtedly have grown on a human level as well.”
Ten Hag, 54, arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 off the back of clinching his third Eredivisie trophy in four years and setting the record as Ajax’s quickest manager to hit 100 league victories. Slot’s Feyenoord wrapped that season third in the Eredivisie standings, and narrowly lost to Roma in the Europa Conference League final.
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Liverpool are undoubtedly content with their selection for Klopp’s heir based on the results witnessed so far. The new arrival has been near impeccable since taking charge at Liverpool, steering them to the league summit and securing victories in both of their Champions League encounters to date.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag is at the centre of intense speculation about his future despite having only signed a new contract in the summer. And Diemers’ comments hint at one particular part of the coach’s approach that could lift his craft to the next level.
