Tensions are simmering within the Manchester United squad following the team’s dire start to the season under Erik ten Hag, according to reports.
United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night after losing 3-0 at home to Newcastle, just three days after being beaten in the Manchester derby by the same scoreline.
They have now lost five games at home already this term, and suffered eight defeats in total, leaving them eighth in the table, out of one cup competition, and in danger of failing to make the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Their shocking run of form has had an effect on the dressing room, with players beginning to resent certain team-mates, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
There is a belief within the squad that Ten Hag has his favourites that he continues to stand by and protect regardless of whether they are performing on the pitch or not.
Erik ten Hag has seen his side lose eight games already this season in all competitions
There is reportedly simmering resentment from players towards certain team-mates
This report comes after Mail Sport revealed United players are concerned by Ten Hag’s hardline approach at Old Trafford
Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that the players are concerned Ten Hag’s hardline approach is having a negative impact on team morale.
This follows the manager’s decision to axe Harry Maguire as his captain in pre-season, while he has also not considered Jadon Sancho for selection for the last two months after he claimed he had been made a ‘scapegoat’ at the club.
Those doubts only appear to have grown after another difficult week for the Old Trafford outfit.
The club’s chief executive Richard Arnold claimed last week that United are making ‘good progress’ but that does not seem to be a view shared by the players.
They reportedly have concerns about the direction the club is heading in, with the team currently unable to replicate the results or performances they achieved last season in Ten Hag’s maiden campaign in charge.
Emotions have threatened to spill over on the pitch this week, with Antony and Bruno Fernandes both booked following rash challenges in the latter stages of the defeat to Manchester City.
Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat were also shown yellow cards late on against Newcastle as they struggled to keep their cool, while fans and pundits have questioned the body language of some players in recent games.
Club legend Roy Keane called for Bruno Fernandes to be stripped of the captaincy in the aftermath of the City loss as he criticised the Portuguese midfielder’s on-field behaviour.
United are struggling badly, with Casemiro going off injured in Wednesday’s defeat
Bruno Fernandes has kept the captain’s armband despite Roy Keane calling for him to be stripped
Ten Hag has stood by Fernandes for now, as he took the captain’s armband when coming on as a second-half substitute on Wednesday.
But Fernandes could not get his side back in the game and the players were booed off as they left the pitch.
Former Newcastle and City goalkeeper Shay Given watched the game from the Sky Sports studio, and claimed there looked to be ‘a real divide between the players and the manager’.
Gary Neville has hinted that Ten Hag may not get the chance to fix that perceived divide, as he posted on social media ‘we know how it ends’ on Wednesday night, suggesting the manager’s days at Old Trafford could be numbered.
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