Speaking in his first interview as manager, Ten Hag made it clear that he has high expectations and that players he’s inheriting must follow his orders.
“That is what I expect,” he said when asked about the players needing to impress him.
“I have high expectations from myself and that is also what I demand from my squad.
“They have to co-operate together and they have to give every day their best. And I would say, for me, good is not good enough. We have to do better.”
Ten Hag does admit, however, that he finds the challenge of rebuilding United ‘exciting’.
“That is really exciting,” said the 52-year-old.
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“But we didn’t have that time now, and now we close the season and I’m coming over to meet people and to roll out the strategy, to prepare pre-season, prepare staff and prepare a squad.”
On similarities between United and Ajax, he added: “I think that’s the comparison.
“I have been in Bayern Munich, I have been in Ajax and now I come to Man United.
“I know our opponents are highly motivated, they are over-motivated to beat Man United and we have to be ready for that.
“To go and win that battle. Even if they are over-motivated, we have to be more.
“We always have to be more willing to win the game than the opponent.”
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And, on whether he’d make United a ‘fighting machine’, he said: “Always.
“Everywhere I was in my career, I have high demands on my players. I expect them to fight and give 100 per cent.
“I already mentioned that only good is good enough. No, not only that – we have to do better and they have to co-operate.
“They have to be unified, to form a team, and to battle the opponent.”
Ten Hag will be United’s fifth permanent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
He’ll come in after the mixed stints of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes.