22 September 2023 , 11:29
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A number of Manchester United players are unhappy with Erik ten Hag's criticism, tactics and supposed favouritism, it's claimed.
Ten Hag is enduring his worst run in the Old Trafford hot seat, having suffered his third straight defeat on Wednesday when Bayern Munich claimed what was a dominant 4-3 victory in their Champions League group stage opener. The scoreline flattered United as they were outplayed for arguably the fifth time in their six games this season.
Misery has already seeped into the dressing room and sources from inside the Red Devils' inner sanctum have revealed to the Manchester Evening News that multiple players are starting to grow tired of Ten Hag. His perceived favouritism is reported to routinely result in some players being singled out for criticism time and again, while others are regularly said to avoid the Dutchman's wrath.
Certain members of the squad aren't pleased with his tactics, just like under previous bosses Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. Ten Hag's preferred starting XI has been ripped up over the past few weeks, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Antony all unavailable and their absences have helped throw United's campaign into disarray.
Ten Hag has denied a split in the dressing room, saying in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's testing trip to Burnley. "I don't know if it's a leak (from the dressing room), but I know opinion, I know my players," the United manager vowed.
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"Everyone can make suggestions, but we are okay with it. You get stronger from it, as long as you stay together. That's what we're doing. All the staff, coaches, medical people, everyone is united - and at United you fight."
Ten Hag also railed against claims that his agent, Kees Vos, now has too much influence on the Red Devils and their transfer dealings. "It can't be, because we make very good agreements about it from the start," the former Ajax boss affirmed.
Manchester United were dismantled by Bayern Munich on Wednesday in a 4-3 loss (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)Have your say! Should Erik ten Hag be fearing for this job? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
"How we cooperate in that manner, for player decisions, transfers, it's always 50-50. We both have a veto, the club, represented by [football director] John Murtough, and me. So there can never be a distraction."
Captain Bruno Fernandes urged his team-mates to stick together in the aftermath of the damning Bayern defeat, insisting that injured players aren't an excuse for the type of result which occurred in Munich. "We don't have to think about the injured players," a dejected Fernandes told TNT Sports.
"We have enough players to give a response on the pitch. Obviously, we want everyone fit, as many players as possible, and we know we have some important players injured, but that's not an excuse not to win games."
United kick-off at 8pm against Burnley.