Ten Hag's position is untenable as Man Utd stars hold 'resentment' to teammates

Suraj Radia

2 Nov 2023 11:20 CDT
4 min read

Some Manchester United players are said to be ‘resentful’ towards other teammates as tension grows under Erik ten Hag’s management following their dismal exit in the Carabao Cup.

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United suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to a rotated Newcastle side, leading to their eighth loss already this season in all competitions, including their fifth at Old Trafford.

While the result was damning in itself, United’s lacklustre display was the most alarming factor to many supporters, with Ten Hag’s side never appearing engaged with one another or cohesive in their set-up.

And a report from the Manchester Evening News states that there is ‘increasing unrest’ in the United dressing room, with ‘doubts’ growing over Ten Hag’s management from players, who are also said to hold ‘simmering resentment’ towards certain teammates.

The negativity was evident on the pitch, with all of Newcastle’s goals coming from a shocking combination of poor defending and attitude from United’s stars, who were often seen complaining and pointing fingers while their opponents drove forward in attack.

The complete collapse of performances combined with the familiar trend of dressing room leaks towards disharmony has let Ten Hag’s position untenable and United heading back to square one in dramatic fashion.

United’s contrasting fortunes and mirroring past failures

Ten Hag was seen as a revelation during his first season at the club, being praised for instilling discipline after spearheading Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and leading United to moderate success on the pitch.

But the Dutchman has overseen an astonishing decline this season, not too dissimilar to his predecessors, who themselves have often started well only to see performances spiral downwards upon the first sign of negativity and tension.

"He will get the critics, but I think the players can do a lot more" 🗣

Former Man United forward Wayne Rooney on Erik Ten Hag, who has come under pressure after the clubs recent results and performances ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/U9I1kmOIPg
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 2, 2023

The breakdown is something which has been mirrored in United’s performances, with losses often coming after conceding multiple goals in quick succession, even when initially taking the lead, with Ten Hag’s side dropping more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League last season.

However, the United boss’ inefficient and poor recruitment, coupled with the sharp drop in performances from stars such as Marcus Rashford and Casemiro, has left Ten Hag without much sympathy despite the initial optimism surrounding his tenure.

ODDS: Ex-Real Madrid manager favourite to replace Ten Hag

It appears that the only thing saving Ten Hag is the lack of an obvious replacement as well as the incoming investment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who will take control of footballing operations, meaning his position is likely safe for now even if there is a belief that United’s manager is a dead man walking.