Blind Backs ‘Control Freak’ Ten Hag to Deliver at Manchester United

02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
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Blind Backs ‘Control Freak’ Ten Hag to Deliver at Manchester United

02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)
02 November 2021, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dortmund: Then Ajax's head coach Erik ten Hag leads a training session for the team at at Signal Iduna Park ahead of a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. (dpa)

Ajax Amsterdam defender Daley Blind has described new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag as a "control freak" and backed the Dutchman to bring success back to the club if given time and resources to establish his own playing style.

Blind, who spent four seasons at United before leaving for Ajax in 2018, won three Eredivisie titles and two domestic cups under Ten Hag.

"He's really social," the 32-year-old told https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/daley-blind-says-new-united-boss-erik-ten-hag-is-a-control-freak United's website. "I think, also in Ajax, he knows everyone at the club is important. Everyone needs to be involved to get that winning feeling, that winning mentality.

"He is aware of that and wants to keep everything close. He's also a control freak and wants to be on top of everything. I think that's a special quality you need to have when being that good."

Ten Hag takes over at Old Trafford following a woeful campaign under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, with the team finishing sixth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League qualification.

United have not won a trophy since the Europa League in 2017 and while getting his hands on silverware will be important for Ten Hag he must first establish a clear playing style, said Blind.

"I know this manager has the quality and I hope he gets the time to put everything his way and makes sure the team plays how he wants," he added. "I am confident he will be successful."



Trump Makes NCAA Men's Wrestling Championships his Latest Sports-focused Trip

President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts after he defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts after he defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Trump Makes NCAA Men's Wrestling Championships his Latest Sports-focused Trip

President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts after he defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts after he defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson during a 285-pound match in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

US President Donald Trump attended the NCAA wrestling championships on Saturday night for the second time in three years, the latest example of how he has mostly limited travel early in his new term to trips built around sports events.

Trump arrived at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to loud cheers and a standing ovation. He pumped his fists amid “U-S-A!” chants. As the matches occurred, Trump stood near the action and personally congratulated most of the winning wrestlers. Hours later, he left the arena, shaking hands along the way as the crowd roared, The Associated Press reported.

The Republican president spent Friday night at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 70 miles northeast of Philadelphia, on what was his first visit there of his second term.“We’re going to the big fight," Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday evening. “I’ve always supported the wrestlers.”

He added, “These are the great college wrestlers from the various schools.”

Trump traveled with billionaire and top adviser Elon Musk. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin greeted the president as he arrived at the Philadelphia airport. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick and US Rep. Jim Jordan were also at the arena sitting in the same section as Musk and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.

In the two-plus months since returning to the White House, Trump attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 in Florida, where his motorcade drove a portion of the track.

While president-elect he went to a UFC fight in New York.That’s more travel for sports than for policy announcements or official duties, though a long January swing took Trump to tour damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and wildfires in Los Angeles. He then gave a speech and visited the floor of Las Vegas’ Circa Resort & Casino before heading to Doral, Florida, to address a House Republican policy conference.

Trump has long built his public and political persona around sporting events, and relishes turning up at live events to hear cheers from the crowd, even if some in attendance boo him. He also has signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports — an action which he points to frequently to fire up his core supporters.

The president played football as a student at the New York Military Academy.

As a New York businessman in the early 1980s, he owned the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.Trump had sued to force a merger of the USFL and the NFL. The USFL eventually folded.

The president has used most Saturdays and Sundays to play golf at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, though he also sometimes remained in Washington to give weekend speeches.

Trump was a candidate for reelection when he went to the 2023 NCAA wrestling championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.