'You end up on an island!' - Guus Hiddink explains where Erik ten Hag went wrong at Manchester United as he claims Dutchman made one key mistake

United’s leadership ultimately decided to part ways with Ten Hag after a series of disappointing performances, culminating in a loss to relegation-threatened West Ham. The defeat proved to be the breaking point, prompting the club to replace him with Sporting CP’s highly regarded Ruben Amorim.

Even after a low-key finish to the Premier League last season, the board extended his contract and signed players he requested to strengthen the squad. Despite the efforts, results continue to remain elusive and yet Ten Hag remained defiant in front of the media.

Hiddink believes Ten Hag's reliance on his personal circle was a significant misstep. According to him, surrounding oneself with too many familiar faces can create an isolating environment that hinders integration into a new club’s culture.

“Everyone does it in their own way, but I was surprised at how many confidants Erik gathered around him,” he told Voetbal Primeur.

“Then you end up on an island, which makes it more difficult to integrate into the culture of your new club and is watched with suspicion. I always took one assistant abroad with me, with whom I could map out things in the field of football. I therefore opted for local trainers and supervisors. People who knew the club or the country well.

“You play a role in how you are judged. Sometimes approach it with a wink. I mean, we are talking about football, not about war and peace. You should not respond to force that comes your way with force. Then it will explode somewhere.”

With Ten Hag gone, Amorim now faces the challenge of steering Manchester United back to success. He started his reign with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich and will look to register his first win against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday.