Beckham backs Ten Hag despite Man Utd sack rumours

Cameron Smith

• 10 May 2024 10:00 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United legend David Beckham believes Erik ten Hag is a “good manager” and thinks the current Red Devils squad shouldn’t rely on the Dutchman for motivation.

Ten Hag is under increasing pressure at Old Trafford and reports suggest the former Ajax manager may be sacked once the 2023-24 campaign ends following a disappointing season by Man Utd’s standards.

The 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night was a new low for Ten Hag, and Man Utd have been linked with a host of managers as they search for a possible replacement.

READ MORE: Ten Hag is leaving Man Utd - and the players know it

Roberto De Zerbi, Graham Potter, Thomas Frank, Gareth Southgate, Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel have all been touted as potential options for the Old Trafford side, although Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unlikely to make a decision on Ten Hag’s future until the season is over.

While Ten Hag has been blamed for the majority of Man Utd’s problems so far this campaign, Red Devils legend Beckham believes the players are also responsible.

READ MORE: Man Utd identify FIRST CHOICE Ten Hag replacement

What has David Beckham said?

Speaking to TalkSPORT at the premiere of ‘99’ - a documentary about Man Utd’s treble win in 1999 - Beckham admitted that the current crop of players shouldn’t rely on Ten Hag for motivation.

“Well, in all honesty you'd hope that the manager doesn't have to do much [motivate the players],” he said.

“I think that's the whole point of being a Manchester United player and playing in these big games, you should be motivated.

“When you're a professional footballer and you're doing the job that you love and you're at the club that you love, when you're playing in any game whether it's a regular season game or whether it's an FA Cup final against your rivals, then that should be enough motivation,” Beckham continued.

"If it's not, then you're in the wrong team and you're playing the wrong sport so I think at the end of the day, we went into every game whether it was a youth cup game, a friendly game, off-season or the European Cup final, with the same mentality and the same drive.

"That's what you'd hope at any team and any player for Manchester United, go into an FA Cup final against Manchester City with enough motivation that a manager shouldn't have to say much.”

The former England captain also offered his support to Ten Hag.

He said: “We all know that Erik's a very qualified manager and a good manager and he has the right motives.

"But I think we were lucky in our day that we had Sir Alex Ferguson, we were lucky that we had Eric Harrison and Jim Ryan and Nobby Stiles and all of these great managers and motivators."