After Manchester United’s defeat to Dortmund (2-3) in a friendly match, Red Devils’ coach, Erik ten Hag, paid a great tribute to Sébastien Haller, his former striker at Ajax.
During their summer tour in the United States, as part of the preparation for the 2023-2024 season, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund faced off in a prestigious match over the weekend. The match ended with a 3-2 victory for Dortmund. However, the friendly allowed both coaches to assess the current level of their squads and gave Erik ten Hag the opportunity to reunite with his former player, Sébastien Haller.
The Ivorian striker had played under the Dutch coach during his time at FC Utrecht and Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Haller left Ajax last summer to join Borussia Dortmund, and a few months later, Ten Hag also left Ajax to join Manchester United. The reunion between the two men was an emotional moment for Ten Hag, who quickly paid tribute to his former player.
“I am very proud of him. We have a long history together, and I am very grateful for what he did for me at FC Utrecht and Ajax, where we achieved so much success together. We have a very strong relationship; we are friends, and I am very proud,” Ten Hag said in the post-match press conference.
For the Manchester United coach, Haller has won a double battle, having overcome testicular cancer diagnosed last summer. “He has recovered from a serious illness, but not only that, he has returned to the highest level. It is a great accomplishment that speaks volumes about his mentality, personality, and character,” Erik Ten Hag added.
