Senior Manchester United players have been startled by the poor quality of manager Erik ten Hag‘s signings since he took over at Old Trafford, according to reports.
United have struggled despite splashing out more than £400million in the transfer market in Ten Hag’s 18 months in charge at the club, including £72m on 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund, £82m on former Ajax winger Antony and £60m on Mason Mount.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the signings of Hojlund, Antony, Mount – along with Wout Weghorst’s ill-fated loan spell – have been questioned by long-serving stars in United’s dressing room.
The MEN reports one unnamed player was puzzled by the addition of Hojlund, who arrived from Atalanta in the summer.
The Dane has so far failed to score in the Premier League but has found the net five times in the Champions League.
Pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag after Manchester United’s drab 1-0 defeat by Newcastle
Rasmus Hojlund has struggled during his short time at United after joining for £72million
Hojlund has scored five goals in the Champions League but is yet to find the net in the Premier League
Antony has also failed to impress since his big-money arrival at Old Trafford, while Mount has been reduced to a bit-part role due to a combination of poor form and injuries.
Ten Hag’s strict approach has irked some United players and the MEN reports he has been forced to axe his favoured ‘didn’t follow the rules’ phrase he often uses in post-match press conferences to describe his team’s performances.
The Dutchman finds himself under renewed scrutiny following Saturday’s abject performance at Newcastle, where they suffered their 10th defeat of the season, and facing discord in the dressing room.
The 53-year-old desperately needs to bounce back from the Newcastle defeat at home to Chelsea on Wednesday and Bournemouth on Saturday amid growing unrest in the camp, although United fans are still behind the manager and plan to voice their support for him when they host the Blues tomorrow night.
A number of senior players are said to be questioning Ten Hag’s approach and tactics. Some believe they have been made to train too hard this season while others feel the manager is too authoritarian.
Reports have also claimed Ten Hag has lost half of the dressing room due to his management style.
Chris Sutton believes, however, that United’s protracted malaise is ‘far bigger’ than the manager.
‘He has players in that dressing room who are snakes as far as I am concerned,’ Sutton said on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast.
‘Players who aren’t running. Bruno Fernandes isn’t running. Marcus Rashford isn’t running. Anthony Martial isn’t running. They are talented players so why?
‘Bruno Fernandes, I don’t know what position he plays. But Bruno is the captain. If Roy Keane was captain, if Steve Bruce was captain, if Bryan Robson was captain of that team would they be allowing what goes on out on the field?
Mason Mount joined for £60m in the summer but has been reduced to a bit-part role so far
The abject nature of United’s defeat by Newcastle on Saturday has caused concern among fans
Ten Hag faces a crucial period as United play Bayern Munich and Liverpool next week
‘It is the manager who carries the can but would they allow players not to run back and not pull their weight?
‘I can imagine the Newcastle players in the dressing room before that game. I imagine them having to be held in and then bursting and ready to explode. That’s how I imagine an Eddie Howe dressing room feels.
‘And then on the other side you have Manchester United and their dressing room which is just full of prima donnas.’
United’s dismal season so far could get worse next week as they must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday to stand any chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League, before they face a daunting trip to Liverpool on Sunday, the scene of their 7-0 humiliation last season.
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