Erik ten Hag fires thinly veiled dig at incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot… as the Man United boss awaits outcome of this week’s end-of-season review which will decide if he is sacked

Erik ten Hag has unleashed a thinly veiled criticism of incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot, claiming the former Feyenoord boss may be overhyped.

Slot will take charge as the Reds’ new manager on June 1, succeeding Jurgen Klopp after the German stepped down at the end of the season after nine years at the helm.

The 45-year-old has been manager of Feyenoord since 2021 and has led the Dutch team to success in recent years. Last season he won the club’s first Eredivisie title since 2017, before lifting the Dutch Cup in April.

The former midfielder, who played for PEC Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and NAC Breda during his career, has been labeled a workaholic, with Klopp specifically describing the new Reds boss as a ‘good coach and a good guy’.

But it appears Ten Hag, who is currently waiting to find out whether he will remain in charge at Old Trafford next season, is not as impressed with the work Slot has done at Feyenoord this season as others, claiming that PSV , the Dutch player of this year, champions were better.

Slot (middle) guided Feyenoord to the national title and the league title in the past two seasons

The Dutchman will officially join Liverpool on June 1, but has big boots to fill as he replaces outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp

“People have become too lyrical about Feyenoord,” says the Man United boss via Voetbal International. The mirror.

‘Feyenoord was stable this year, but not top. PSV Eindhoven was two classes better in all areas. In terms of ball control, in terms of putting pressure, in terms of intensity, you name it.’

PSV, led by Dutch coach Peter Bosz, finished seven points ahead of Feyenoord at the top of the table, with Ten Hag’s old side, Ajax, failing to qualify for the Champions League as they dropped to fifth place.

“Bosz and his staff have done an excellent job,” said Ten Hag. ‘But the rest of the club is also well put together.

‘PSV Eindhoven was better than the rest at such a long distance, so much better even than Feyenoord.’

It appears Slot has wasted no time in adjusting to life in Britain, with the Dutchman pictured in Liverpool earlier this week ahead of his move.

He will inherit a squad put together by Klopp in recent years that includes a wide range of world-class talent and some brilliant young stars.

Klopp (pictured) will leave Liverpool after nearly nine years at the helm, having announced his decision to leave the club earlier this season

Amid a well-documented injury crisis this season, Klopp was praised for his efforts to bring in several youth stars, who more than impressed on the big stage and ultimately helped his side win the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool had named eight youth stars in their EFL Cup-winning squad, including Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Conor Bradley, Ben Doak and Lewis Koumas – all of whom are now being pitched to lead the post-Klopp era at Liverpool.

‘Jurgen and (assistant) Pep Lijnders have left a strong foundation. He (Slot) comes into a better position than I did when I went to Man United from the Netherlands,” Ten Hag said in an interview with Voetbal International.

‘In terms of structure at the club, in terms of balance in the selection. Last year they (Liverpool) had a transition in the team.

‘Then guys like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson left. Last season at Liverpool they also had a bit of the year we had now, with a lot of injuries.’

Meanwhile, his future at United remains uncertain with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Man United leadership team set to conduct a seasonal review this week which will also assess Ten Hag’s suitability to continue in his current role.

Since joining the club in 2022, Ten Hag has now won two major trophies with United, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, but is facing questions over his candidacy after United endured a torrid season, finishing eighth in the Premier League. lowest ranking since the 1989-1990 season.

Slot (right) has been spotted in Liverpool for the first time since moving to Britain

Klopp got the Anfield faithful excited for their new manager as he chanted his name as part of his farewell speech

Ten Hag (pictured) is awaiting the results of Man United’s season review amid questions about his job security

After Saturday’s final, Ten Hag was pressed about his future, with Gary Lineker asking him if he had received any updates from United’s owners on a decision on whether he would stay next season.

During a post-match interview on the BBC’s live broadcast of the final, Lineker told the manager: ‘I can feel your frustration, and your frustration could be that this could potentially be your last game. Do you know?’

“I don’t know,” Ten Hag replied. “All I do is prepare my team and develop my team. Helping my team and individual players progress.

‘Because this is a project for me. When I walked in I can say it was a mess. Now we are better. We are still far from where we want to be.’