If Man United fans weren’t already getting carried away with Erik ten Hag after nine straight wins, an old clip of him talking about football as a kid has recently resurfaced and Reds can’t get enough.
To make things even more surreal, not only does the video show what looks to be a very smart 13-year-old ten Hag, but the person he is confidently chatting with is none other than legendary player, manager and general football visionary, Johan Cruyff.
Unearthed by Twitter user @RuudAzz, the video is ripped from a 1984 episode of the Dutch sporting icon’s own TV show, Cruyff & Co, and sees the two discussing the differences between coaching different types of players.
To be honest, we just can’t get over seeing him with hair!
Johan Cruyff: "But it happens a lot, right, that a trainer yells. Or does that not happen with you guys?"
Erik ten Hag: "I think you should watch out that you don't yell to the youth too much, because you can break a player like that.
As translated in the thread below, Cruyff was discussing the ins and outs of football management with a group of his nation’s brightest young talents when ten Hag responded to the topic of coaches shouting at their players.
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“I think you should watch out that you don’t yell to the youth too much, because you can break a player like that”, says a young ten Hag, speaking very insightfully for such someone of his age.
He then goes on to insist that there’s a difference between coaching youth players and professionals “on a higher level, such as the first team of Ajax, you should be able to say something about it. Those guys train almost every day of the week. If they keep making the same mistakes, you should be able to confront them.”
It’s clear that ten Hag’s philosophies were embedded quite early on as he clearly looks to be seeing results with players in his current United squad, each of which look to have seemingly received a different kind of man-management depending on their age, conduct and prior issues.
For instance, while Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude was called into question, the 52-year-old simply decided to make him wait for his chance rather than punish him and has been equally measured with other young players like Tyrell Malacia and youth prospects like Kobie Manioo.
On the other hand, he also clearly knows how to establish a strict code of conduct, as Jadon Sancho has been made to train separately as he works on his fitness, focus and confidence; even high-flying Marcus Rashford was dropped to the bench after being late for a team meeting.
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He clearly made his thoughts clear during the whole Ronaldo saga too. It would seem he’s always expected very specific things from coaches, including himself — talk about sticking to your principles.
Featured Image — @RuudAzz/Sky Sports (via Twitter)
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Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
17th January 2023 
