Erik ten Hag reportedly feels bitterly let down by three senior stars in the wake of his sacking by Manchester United.
Ten Hag was finally given the boot at Old Trafford on Monday. From the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish to their most dismal start to a season, the past 18 months have been tough for the Dutchman.
His fellow countryman and assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in temporarily as interim manager, while the club thrash out a deal with Sporting CP for their boss Ruben Amorim to replace Ten Hag.
Despite receiving a vote of confidence from new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS in the summer in the shape of a contract extension, the United board had spoken to potential replacements and came close to firing the 54-year-old.
Ten Hag’s team were consistently underwhelming during his reign and the Mirror reports that he sees Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Antony as contributing to his downfall.
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Rashford has only scored once this season in the league, during a 3-0 thrashing of Southampton, and failed to register a shot in his first three league games. His previous campaign was also incredibly disappointing. Seven league goals and three assists were a far cry from the 17 (30 in all competitions) he scored during Ten Hag’s debut season.
Casemiro has certainly had a season filled with critique. Whispers have emerged suggesting that the Brazilian might be enticed by the Saudi Pro League come summer, citing his difficulty in keeping pace with the Premier League’s intense speed. Following a lacklustre performance against Liverpool, where he played a part in conceding two goals in the humiliating 3-0 defeat, the former Real Madrid star was replaced by newcomer Manuel Ugarte.
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Antony, previously a standout player for Ten Hag at Ajax, despite the faith shown through his hefty £86m transfer fee, failed to make an impactful start at his new club, further blemishing Ten Hag’s record of transfers. Many believe that the staggering near-£600m splurge to craft Ten Hag’s dream team may have been for naught.
Bruno Fernandes, another high-profile player who was appointed captain by Ten Hag, has also recently been the target of criticism due to below-average play and a duo of red cards, albeit one overturned in games against Tottenham and Porto.
However, post Ten Hag’s dismissal, Fernandes took to social media to express gratitude: “Thanks for everything, boss. I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together. I wish you all the best in the future.”
He also appealed to the fans, saying: “Even knowing the last period hasn’t been great from all of us, I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club.”