Rio Ferdinand opens up on private Erik ten Hag chat as Man Utd boss makes excuse

McTominay insists Man Utd squad remain fully behind Ten Hag

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has revealed all about his private conversation with Erik ten Hag, in which he asked the Red Devils boss why his team were not performing on the pitch. The Dutchman has come under pressure once again following United’s recent 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, leaving them six points off local rivals Manchester City in fourth place.

Ferdinand has not only been disappointed with results this season, but performances and the attitude of players on the pitch. He had hoped to see progress in playing the way Ten Hag wants, reminiscent of his Ajax side that took European football by storm.

But Ferdinand believes that the Dutchman has failed to imprint his style of play on the team.

“I want to see a style of football,” Ferdinand told talkSPORT. “I can’t see a style of football and an identity and a philosophy when you look at so many teams around the league [and see that], whether they’re near the top or the bottom.

“You always know a Sean Dyche team when you see it. When he puts his team out, you know he must be on the training ground working on his team.”

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Ferdinand described his chat with Ten Hag before the 3-3 draw away to Galatasaray in the Champions League, in which the boss said that injuries were to blame for their disappointing season.

Ferdinand explained: “I spoke to Ten Hag before the Galatasaray game, and I said, ‘Why have we not seen a consistent performance from your team yet?’ and he said, ‘Well, I’ve had a lot of injuries,’ but I still think those other players that are coming in are on the training ground as well, they’re watching these training sessions and taking part.”

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Ten Hag’s position as United head coach has come under increasing pressure this season, but Ferdinand has insisted that he should not be sacked as the club would not progress from his dismissal.

“On the basis of what I saw last season, yes [he should stay],” Ferdinand added. “I agree with him that there have been big injuries to key players, and key players are out of this team. It’s not just about the manager. If you sack Ten Hag and bring someone else in, I reckon we’ll still be here in two years saying the same thing.

“The culture at the club has got to be set and changed, he’s been trying to do that with all the sagas we’ve seen off the pitch, from taking the armband off [Harry] Maguire, to [Cristiano] Ronaldo, to [Jadon] Sancho.”


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