Manchester United players are reportedly concerned that Erik ten Hag’s no-nonsense coaching methods are negatively affecting morale in the dressing room. The Dutchman has made an example out of Jadon Sancho, like he did with Cristiano Ronaldo, which has opened him up to scrutiny at Old Trafford.
Such drastic action can prove a hit among supporters when results back up the manager’s approach. But United have endured a miserable start to the season, losing five of their first 10 Premier League games to leave them eighth in the table.
The scale of the gap between the Red Devils and title-chasing sides was exemplified on Sunday, when Manchester City proved a class apart at Old Trafford, toying with the hosts in a resounding 3-0 win.
Now, The Daily Mail claim that a dressing room source has aired worries about harmony in the squad, with Ten Hag’s ‘abrupt’ philosophy hurting togetherness.
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The 53-year-old stamped his authority on the United job soon after arriving, as five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo was dropped to the substitutes’ bench and ultimately shipped out of Old Trafford for slating him during an interview with Piers Morgan.
Similarly, Sancho felt Ten Hag’s wrath earlier this season after calling the former Ajax boss out on social media. The winger has been banished from first-team training ever since, and he can’t even eat with the rest of his team-mates.
“He’s not world class, I think he’s the level below that,” he explained to Sky Sports ahead of the Man City defeat. “If United want to get back to winning the league and European cup, Marcus Rashford can’t be your best attacker.
“United need someone better than Rashford to go and win that. It’s not really a criticism of him, but the players he’s playing with.”
