Ten Hag’s defiant messages have raised some eyebrows in the dressing room, with the manager complaining that there is nothing wrong with his methods and that he has been given no support from the new regime
Erik ten Hag has urged Manchester United’s struggling players not to listen to those who dismiss them as hopeless.
According to Old Trafford insiders, the Dutchman is attempting to instill a siege mentality ahead of the arrival of Premier League title contenders Liverpool, following United’s stunning injury-time loss to Chelsea on Thursday night.
However, his outspoken statements have raised some eyebrows in the dressing room, with Ten Hag continuing to protest that there is nothing wrong with his techniques and that he has received no support from the new regime being implemented by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The United manager believes there has also been a lack of understanding of the injury problem, which has resulted in him losing defensive trio Rafael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Jonny Evans ahead of the game against Jurgen Klopp’s rampaging team.
Gary Neville, a former Reds defender, was astonished to witness a top-flight team play so poorly for 90 minutes when United squandered three points at Brentford last weekend after allowing another injury-time goal.
Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand have also been critical of their former team this season. Ten Hag has been urging his players that the only way to silence them is to band together, and that they can still save United’s season.
Ten Hag is fighting for his survival following a club record-equaling 12 Premier League defeats with eight games remaining this season. United still have a negative goal difference following their 4-3 defeat at Stamford Bridge, but they are fighting for European qualifying and will face Championship side Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals later this month.
England manager Gareth Southgate is being touted as a potential successor to the Dutchman following the European Championship in the summer. Nonetheless, Ten Hag is convinced that he will be allowed time to address concerns with his squad, and that he deserves to be given some leeway after qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge.
He refuses to believe that he may already be a dead man walking after spending £400 million on players who have underperformed. Ten Hag believes Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group has focused its energies on developing a new leadership structure rather than addressing the issues that continue to plague United on the pitch.
INEOS have taken charge of football operations at Old Trafford following Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion deal with the Glazer family. And they have made it a priority to address issues with a recruitment structure which has seen United blow over £1billion in the transfer market over the last decade.
Omar Berrada, formerly of Manchester City, has been appointed as the club’s new CEO. Dan Ashworth will be appointed technical director once United and Newcastle agree on a compensation package.
However, both men are currently on gardening leave, and Ten Hag believes there has been no direction at the top of the organization. Ratcliffe also aims to bring former City academy manager Jason Wilcox to United’s recruitment team provided a compensation agreement with current club Southampton is reached.
Due to the vacuum, Ten Hag has been unable to clarify his future ambitions.