"Ten Hag Tactically Leaves Man Utd Star Out of Derby Lineup to Neutralize City's Main Threat"

Erik ten Hag, manager of Dutch side Ajax, has revealed the reasoning behind his decision to leave Manchester United star Donny van de Beek out of the lineup for the recent Amsterdam derby against rivals Feyenoord.

Speaking to reporters after the match, which Ajax won 3-0, Ten Hag explained that he had identified Manchester City play-maker Kevin de Bruyne as Feyenoord's main threat, and had decided to deploy a defensive midfielder in van de Beek's place in order to nullify that threat.

"We knew that Feyenoord would look to De Bruyne to create chances for them, so we felt it was important to have a player in midfield who could help to neutralize that threat," Ten Hag said. "Donny is a very talented player, but in this particular game, we needed someone with more defensive skills, and that's why we went with a different player."

The decision paid off, as Ajax dominated the midfield battle and were able to control the tempo of the game, ultimately running out comfortable winners. De Bruyne, who is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, was largely ineffective and was substituted early in the second half.

Ten Hag's decision to leave van de Beek out of the lineup may have surprised some fans and analysts, as the Dutch international has been in excellent form for Ajax this season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in all competitions. However, Ten Hag emphasized that the decision was based on the specific needs of the game, and that van de Beek would continue to play a key role for the team moving forward.

"Donny is a very important player for us, and he will continue to be," Ten Hag said. "But in this game, we needed to make a tactical decision, and I believe it was the right one. We're happy with the result, and we'll continue to work together as a team to achieve our goals."

Ten Hag has been praised for his tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players, and his decision to leave van de Beek out of the lineup for the Amsterdam derby is further evidence of his ability to make difficult decisions in the interest of the team.

It's clear that Ten Hag's approach is to always put the team first, and he has shown that he is not afraid to make bold decisions in order to achieve success. His ability to identify the opposition's main threat and come up with a plan to neutralize it is one of the reasons why Ajax have been so successful in recent years.

While it may have been a difficult decision to leave van de Beek out of the lineup, Ten Hag's decision ultimately helped Ajax to secure a vital win in the Amsterdam derby. With the team now sitting at the top of the Eredivisie table, they will look to continue their strong form as they chase their domestic and European titles.