ERIK TEN HAG is having his techniques questioned by Manchester United’s gamers for the first time.
The Dutch boss faces mounting strain after Sunday’s 3-0 Previous Trafford hammering by neighbours Manchester Metropolis — the Pink Devils’ fifth defeat in ten league video games.
Erik ten Hag is coming underneath fireplace from his Manchester United flopsCredit score: AFP
The Pink Devils have been stuffed 3-0 within the Manchester derbyCredit score: Getty
United chief Ten Hag tore into his stars for his or her second-half efficiency.
However the gamers themselves have been left dumbfounded by a number of the supervisor’s techniques.
A number of gamers made their emotions recognized within the dressing-room inquest.
They might not perceive why centre-back Victor Lindelof was performed at left-back — the benched Sergio Reguilon’s specialist place.
Additionally why was Bruno Fernandes performed extensive — the place he’s much less efficient than his most well-liked No 10 function — when Antony is a pure winger?
Antony may be seen shaking his head when he was not one of many early substitutions as Ten Hag regarded to vary issues round.
Mason Mount got here on for Sofyan Amrabat on the break however didn’t make any impression.
Antony was ignored once more when Alejandro Garnacho changed Rasmus Hojlund within the 73rd minute.
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That introduced boos from the group.
On the identical time Ten Hag lastly determined Reguilon would in truth be higher than Lindelof on the left of the defence.
Antony was lastly thrown on for the ineffective Anthony Martial within the 86th minute with United three down and the sport properly and really up.
And what’s occurring with Marcus Rashford?
There was even a smattering of cheers when final season’s 30-goal prime scorer, who turns 26 right this moment, was hooked in direction of the tip of the sport.
The critiques of United’s efficiency didn’t make nice studying.
Former captain Roy Keane summed his emotions up saying: “They’re brief in each side — technically, tactically.’
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made an analogous level to beIN Sports activities. He stated: “I don’t see the place they’ll enhance, mainly. This workforce has misplaced confidence, high quality and even spirit.
I consider Man Utd suffers loads with the person high quality of the gamers
Arsene Wenger
“I consider the place Man Utd suffers loads, to begin with is in regards to the high quality, the person high quality of the gamers. And I felt they have been very poor to construct the sport up from the again.
“They gave the ball so many occasions to the goalkeeper once they had prospects to play ahead. I’d say it began there.
“Then you definately make the entire workforce unsure and lack confidence as a result of, if you really feel the concern is behind, they are not looking for the ball.
“The second a part of their massive drawback was that the distances between the striker and the defenders have been big.”
Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher doesn’t assume the continued possession uncertainty ought to give Ten Hag a get-out.
Carragher stated: “They’re taking part in underdog soccer they usually have completed since he got here in.
“They play counter-attack they usually play a variety of lengthy balls.
“No different prime workforce performs like that. It’s nothing to do with what’s occurring above him.
There are query marks over Bruno Fernandes’ placeCredit score: Reuters
Roy Keane made his emotions recognized on the present scenario at Previous TraffordCredit score: PA
“What’s he doing on the coaching pitch, with the gamers he brings in, and what’s he asking them to do? You possibly can’t see it.”
The followers had hoped Ten Hag would carry the attractive sport related to former membership Ajax to Previous Trafford.
Clearly not how Ajax are taking part in now — given their disastrous league marketing campaign to date has them backside of the Eredivisie — however the sport they performed underneath Ten Hag and all through historical past.
Requested in his first United press convention how he needed his workforce to play, he stated: “Perhaps you could have seen Ajax and I like that. But it surely’s all the time the gamers dictating the way in which of play.”
Quick ahead to Sunday and he insisted that enticing type just isn’t doable with this bunch.
He stated: “By no means. We are going to by no means play that soccer as a result of these have been completely different gamers. That is additionally not why I got here right here.
“We’re taking part in completely different soccer than I confirmed at Ajax as a result of I’ve to, as a result of I can’t play the identical means. The gamers determine the way you play.
“Ajax has a really typical and attribute type of play, with Manchester United I’ll all the time present completely different soccer.
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“We play rather more direct soccer right here as a result of I’ve the gamers for that right here.”
Whereas issues look like going into reverse, Ten Hag has sufficient credit score within the financial institution from final season… for now, as our stats breakdown reveals.
His 63 per cent win price is the perfect of any United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson.
And he isn’t the primary to supervise a poor objectives tally initially of a season.
The poor return on objectives was one thing different managers together with Sir Alex have suffered from initially of campaigns.
United have discovered the web solely 11 occasions within the Premier League this time period, the identical as two-goal derby destroyer Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland.
The query is whether or not Ten Hag can flip this round, beginning with Newcastle’s go to to the north-west within the Carabao Cup tomorrow.
Oh, by the way in which Toon followers, carry your raincoats. The Previous Trafford roof is now leaking above the away followers too.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Metropolis ran out comfy winnersCredit score: Getty
There have been boos when Rasmus Hojlund was taken offCredit score: Getty