Man Utd players lay into Erik ten Hag’s tactics with flops left baffled by decisions on defence and Bruno Fernandes
ERIK TEN HAG is having his tactics questioned by Manchester United’s players for the first time.
The Dutch boss faces mounting pressure after Sunday’s 3-0 Old Trafford hammering by neighbours Manchester City — the Red Devils’ fifth defeat in ten league games.
United chief Ten Hag tore into his stars for their second-half performance.
But the players themselves were left dumbfounded by some of the manager’s tactics.
A few players made their feelings known in the dressing-room inquest.
They could not understand why centre-back Victor Lindelof was played at left-back — the benched Sergio Reguilon’s specialist position.
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Also why was Bruno Fernandes played wide — where he is less effective than his preferred No 10 role — when Antony is a natural winger?
Antony could also be seen shaking his head when he was not one of the early substitutions as Ten Hag looked to change things around.
Mason Mount came on for Sofyan Amrabat at the break but failed to make any impression.
Antony was ignored again when Alejandro Garnacho replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the 73rd minute.
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That brought boos from the crowd.
At the same time Ten Hag finally decided Reguilon would in fact be better than Lindelof on the left of the defence.
Antony was finally thrown on for the ineffective Anthony Martial in the 86th minute with United three down and the game well and truly up.
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There was even a smattering of cheers when last season’s 30-goal top scorer, who turns 26 today, was hooked towards the end of the game.
The reviews of United’s performance did not make pleasant reading.
Former captain Roy Keane summed his feelings up saying: “They are short in every aspect — technically, tactically.’
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made a similar point to beIN Sports. He said: “I don’t see where they can improve, basically. This team has lost confidence, quality and even spirit.
I believe Man Utd suffers a lot with the individual quality of the players
Arsene Wenger
“I believe where Man Utd suffers a lot, first of all is about the quality, the individual quality of the players. And I felt they were very poor to build the game up from the back.
“They gave the ball so many times to the goalkeeper when they had possibilities to play forward. I would say it started there.
“Then you make the whole team uncertain and lack confidence because, when you feel the fear is behind, they do not want the ball.
“The second part of their big problem was that the distances between the striker and the defenders were huge.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher does not think the ongoing ownership uncertainty should give Ten Hag a get-out.
Carragher said: “They are playing underdog football and they have done since he came in.
“They play counter-attack and they play a lot of long balls.
“No other top team plays like that. It’s nothing to do with what’s going on above him.
“What’s he doing on the training pitch, with the players he brings in, and what is he asking them to do? You can’t see it.”
The fans had hoped Ten Hag would bring the beautiful game associated with former club Ajax to Old Trafford.
Obviously not how Ajax are playing now — given their disastrous league campaign so far has them bottom of the Eredivisie — but the game they played under Ten Hag and throughout history.
Asked in his first United press conference how he wanted his team to play, he said: “Maybe you have seen Ajax and I like that. But it’s always the players dictating the way of play.”
Fast forward to Sunday and he insisted that attractive style is not possible with this bunch.
He said: “Never. We will never play that football because those were different players. This is also not why I came here.
“We are playing different football than I showed at Ajax because I have to, because I can’t play the same way. The players decide how you play.
“Ajax has a very typical and characteristic style of play, with Manchester United I will always show different football.
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“We play much more direct football here because I have the players for that here.”
While things appear to be going into reverse, Ten Hag has enough credit in the bank from last season... for now, as our stats breakdown shows.
His 63 per cent win rate is the best of any United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson.
And he is not the first to oversee a poor goals tally at the start of a season.
The poor return on goals was something other managers including Sir Alex have suffered from at the start of campaigns.
United have found the net only 11 times in the Premier League this term, the same as two-goal derby destroyer Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
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The question is whether Ten Hag can turn this around, starting with Newcastle’s visit to the north-west in the Carabao Cup tomorrow.
Oh, by the way Toon fans, bring your raincoats. The Old Trafford roof is now leaking above the away fans too.
