Manchester United are suffering from ‘a real divide between the players and the manager’, insists Shay Given, as he suggests ‘there are a lot of fallouts behind the scenes’

• Man United suffered their second 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in as many matches
• Shay Given questioned whether Man United’s players are playing for Ten Hag
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has claimed there is a ‘real divide’ between Manchester United’s players and their manager Erik ten Hag.

Given made the assessment after Man United’s dismal 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, with the defeat ending their defence of the competition.

The result was Man United’s second 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in as many matches, after being brushed aside by neighbours Manchester City in the derby on Sunday.

Given highlighted Jadon Sancho’s exile from the Man United squad following his dispute with Ten Hag as an example of a potential divide between the players and manager.

Sancho has been training on his own since publicly branding the United manager a liar over his reasons for dropping him for the 3-1 away defeat by Arsenal.

Shay Given has claimed there appears to be a divide between Erik ten Hag and his players

Ex-Newcastle star Given suggested there could be fall outs behind the scenes at Man United

Given highlighted Jadon Sancho’s continued exile from Manchester United’s first team squad

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‘It feels there is a real divide, in my opinion, between the players and the manager,’ Given said on Sky Sports.

‘I think there are a lot of fall outs behind the scenes, that maybe we don’t hear about.

‘Varane was missing tonight and in the derby, ill, Sancho is out of the picture and Antony has had his issues.

‘At the end of any managerial reign at any club, there seems to be a disbelief.

‘Players have to take responsibility, that’s their job when you cross the white line.

‘But it seems at the end of someone’s tether that players, I don’t want to say down tools, but there is disconnection.

‘Losing the derby at the weekend and then losing here tonight, the game was over after an hour.’

Former Man United striker Andy Cole insisted the squad have to stick together and called for the players to take responsibility.

Man United have now suffered consecutive 3-0 defeats in front of their home crowd

‘Losing Sunday and again this evening, the performance wasn’t good and Ten Hag knows that and appreciates that.

‘He is talking about looking at himself, but the players need to look at themselves as once you go over the white line, it is not about the manager, it is about playing for each other.’

Man United will see to bounce back from their successive defeat when they travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Red Devils will start the match in ninth place in the Premier League, eight points adrift of the Champions League places. 

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