Manchester United youth team strategy explained as Erik ten Hag takes control of ‘isolated’ under-21s

Erik ten Hag has taken control of Manchester United’s ‘isolated’ under-21s team as he looks to build an improved pathway to the first-team at the club.

The United manager believes that being in command of the under-21s (also known as the reserve team) is perfect for the development of players. This was the approach that he took whilst in charge at Ajax.

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Both clubs have youth players etched into their history. The Reds have included an academy product in every matchday squad since October 1937.

“For me, cooperation between all the different departments is crucial to get the right culture in a club. Like at Ajax, when I entered Manchester United the reserve team was isolated,” revealed Ten Hag, speaking to The Mirror.

“It was no longer really part of the academy, but it wasn’t part of the first team either. I changed that immediately – just as I did when I entered Amsterdam.”

Mark Dempsey was introduced as the coach for the under-21s for this season. Ten Hag ensures that he is not taking over the job completely but giving precise guidance to maximise the chance of players stepping up to the first-team squad.

“At Ajax, the reserve team came under the responsibility of the manager. That was the only way I could have influence on the flow of young, talented players towards the first team.

“Of course I still give the coaches freedom to work, but I also give them direction, by saying for example ‘I want that player to start making minutes in that position.’

So the final responsibility lies with me about how the second team performs and the flow of players that goes from the reserve team to the first team.”

In fact, this approach was one point that Ten Hag brought up when in discussions with the club prior to taking over. United’s history with the development of their youngsters made it a major plus.

“This is totally new for the people at Manchester United, but I had already discussed it during the introductory talks with the club management.

“They were immediately open to it. They looked at Ajax with admiration because of how the club always manages to get youth players successfully through the system.

“There is a constant influx of talents at Ajax and I explained that’s because the basis of everything at the club is the youth academy.

“When I was going home from my work at Ajax in the evening, I would often see the under-8s or under-9s training and I would stay to watch.”

Ten Hag has already introduced the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Zidane Iqbal into the first-team squad. Alejandro Garnacho has exploded under the Dutchman after careful intervention with disciplinary issues at the beginning of the season.

“In the final phase of a player’s academy years and the step up to the first team, it is all about the structure between the academy director, the reserve-team coach and the manager. This is what I mean when I talk about cooperation.

“I talked to (director of football) John Murtough about this at length before I came to Manchester and he set it up in such a way that I can work this way here too.”