Manchester United players are beginning to question Erik ten Hag‘s tactics for the first time following their 3-0 derby defeat against Manchester City on Sunday, according to report.
United suffered their fifth defeat of the Premier League season having played 10 games so far, and sit eighth in the league table, eight points off of the Champions League spots.
They were by far second best at Old Trafford and don’t seem to have any clear direction, and now players are reportedly starting to lose faith in their manager’s ability to turn their fortunes around.
Ten Hag insisted his team selection was tactical in the game, with Victor Lindelof, a right-footed centre back, deployed at left back over Sergio Reguilon, and Raphael Varane benched with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans preferred in the middle of defence.
According to The Sun, players took exception to Ten Hag’s decision to leave Reguilon out of the team, with questions asked about other selections and tactics in the game.
Manchester United players are beginning to question Erik ten Hag’s tactics, according to a report
United have lost five of their 10 Premier League games so far this season and are showing few signs of progression
Ten Hag chose to play Victor Lindelof (right) at left back against Manchester City – a call the players reportedly questioned
Winger Antony could be seen shaking his head from the bench when he wasn’t brought on among the early substitutes, with Mason Mount instead preferred as an attacking threat to try and change the game at half time.
Alejandro Garnacho was also brought on before the Brazilian, who was made to wait until the 85th minute for his introduction, and was then lucky not to see red after an altercation with Jeremy Doku.
Boos greeted the decision to hook forward Rasmus Hojlund in the 73rd minute for Garnacho, with the score at 2-0 and United needing a miracle for a comeback.
The Sun also report that Ten Hag made his players sit in silence in the changing room at Old Trafford and listed to City’s celebrations at full time.
It is also claimed that the Dutchman made his squad listen to the reception that greeted the champions from the away end – a stark comparison to the home faithful’s reaction, or what was left of it.
Ten Hag, who has reportedly planned to give his players an extra day off if they won the derby, ripped into his team after the game, saying that they can ‘never’ play like his successful Ajax team.
Ten Hag said United will ‘never’ be able to play the way his successful Ajax team did due to the players at the respective clubs
It is also reported that the Dutchman made his players listen to City’s full time celebrations
He pointed out the player difference between the two sides, having won the Eredivisie three times and the Dutch Cup twice.
‘Never. We will never play that football because those were different players,’ he said. ‘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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