Erik ten Hag is reportedly facing resistance from his own dressing room over his treatment of certain players – including Jadon Sancho. It is understood that a number of United stars have privately disagreed with Ten Hag’s strict man-management style.
According to the Daily Star, some cliques have developed in the wake of unwanted off-field situations involving Sancho, Antony and Maso Greenwood. Some players reportedly want Sancho to be recalled to first-team training, while others would like to see Antony dropped from the squad. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph claim that Ten Hag’s treatment of former club captain Maguire is under fire as well.
This comes at a time in which there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the Dutchman’s future at the club. There have been reports suggesting executives were lining up replacements for Ten Hag following United’s dip in form, however, the club have since come out and denied the claims.
“The report claiming that we are exploring alternatives to Erik ten Hag as manager is categorically false,” read a formal statement from the club.
Regardless, Man Utd look like a shadow of their former selves this season. Under Ten Hag, the Red Devils have lost four out of their last six games in all competitions and are sitting outside of the European places in eighth position in the Premier League with 15 points from a possible 30.
United’s recent form has been a far cry away from the successes of the 2022/2023 campaign in which they picked their first piece of silverware since 2017 by winning the Carabao Cup, and secured a top-four finish in England’s top-flight.
Yet Ten Hag insists he is still the right man for the job. He remains in constant communication with CEO Richard Arnold about the alarming situation at Old Trafford while Arnold is reportedly reluctant to sack Ten Hag because of the success he engineered during his maiden campaign.
Arnold’s reluctance is coupled with a unanimous feeling among the board that they do not need the distraction of a change in management while they consider Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s offer for a 25 per cent stake in the club.