Lineker calls out Ten Hag for "unacceptable" handling of Man Utd players

06 December 2023 , 15:19

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Lineker calls out Ten Hag for "unacceptable" handling of Man Utd players

Gary Lineker believes Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag's public criticism of some of his players is "unacceptable" and a "no no".

Ten Hag is under increasing pressure at Old Trafford, with United losing 10 of their 21 games so far this season. Mirror Football understands that the Dutchman is facing a dressing room revolt, with a number of players disillusioned.

And Lineker has highlighted Ten Hag's tendency to criticise his players in press conferences as something the Dutchman should not be doing. Most notably, winger Jadon Sancho has been exiled after hitting back at Ten Hag's suggestion he had not been training poorly.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast about the idea of 'player power' and whether it could be Ten Hag's downfall, Lineker said: "It's hard to tell with these player power things but it felt like they down-tooled a little bit at the weekend against Newcastle, that's for sure.

"They didn't exactly put too much effort in. I mean sometimes that can be confused with a lack of confidence and when you are losing your way on the pitch. But generally it is the manager that suffers under these circumstances.

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"But talking about player power, certainly in the modern age, managing has changed. You have to have the players on board, you can't just go around b******ing players, in fact it was always a no go when you go public with players.

"I think that is the one area that I would criticise Ten Hag a little bit - I don't think he's handled situations brilliantly with various players. He's had a lot to deal with, but he's repeatedly been critical - openly and publicly - and that is the one thing, even when I played, that was unacceptable.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has come under increasing pressure (Getty Images)

"You could take any type of b******ing in the dressing room, but anything a manager does to put you down publicly, is a no no." Despite United's poor start to the season, Ten Hag insists his side are "really improving".

Speaking ahead of their game against Chelsea on Wednesday, he said: "I listen always to my players and I give them always opportunities to tell, if the players have a different opinion of course I will listen.

"But they haven't told me. Or maybe one or two. But it is about in general, the majority, they want to play like this -- proactive, dynamic, brave, that is what they want. You can see the players are behind it because of the performances against Everton and Galatasaray. You see we are really improving."

Matthew Cooper