Former Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag reckons the club’s former players and pundits can help the club more. The Dutchman feels the ex-players are sometimes critical in their statements regarding the club’s performance.
The former coach said the experts do not always know what’s going on behind the scenes.
“It’s everywhere the same; they always want to protect their legacies,” the ex-Ajax head coach said in an interview with Athletic. “It’s no different than Bayern Munich or Ajax; they do the same. But they are [part of United’s] history, and they do not always know what’s going on. Football evolves.
“For United, it’s clear: they had great contributions, they achieved massive results, trophies for the club and for themselves, so I respect them.”
Former Manchester United players like Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes regularly share their two cents on United’s performances.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane slammed the players after Lisandro Martinez’s rant after their Champions League loss against Atletico Madrid.
“They’re obviously not together,” Keane said on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. “It is chaotic there from the top to the bottom. We go there on match days and I don’t like the feeling around the club.
“It just seems chaotic — statements can reflect it. It was chaotic with how they got to [Michael] Carrick as their manager.
“We said from day one there were better options out there, and maybe the players are looking at there’s better options as players out there. It’s chaos, it’s like a circus.”
Earlier, former defender Gary Neville rated Red Devils’ second-half display against Fulham in a 1-1 draw as the “worst 15 minutes” he’s ever seen a United team play.
Ten Hag said he has enjoyed a great relationship with the pundits.
“I have to say, I had a very good relationship with them all, with Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand. I did nice interviews with them both, so it didn’t hurt me. Of course, they have podcasts, they have their models. Sometimes it’s difficult for players. Some of them get affected by it, get annoyed by it.
“They achieved massive successes. But also, they can help the club more, help the players more. There should be two ways that they support it. But I think always the thing you most love, you most criticise.”
Manchester United suffered a 4-1 loss against Como in the UCL on Wednesday.
