Manchester United players fear Erik ten Hag’s hardline approach is affecting team morale with stars feeling that internal conflicts are damaging squad unity amid dismal start to season 

• Man United sit eighth in the Premier League having lost five of their 10 matches
• Ten Hag has banished Jadon Sancho from the first team after his public outburst
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Manchester United players fear head coach Erik ten Hag’s abrupt approach is affecting squad harmony.

United have endured a difficult start to the season, they currently sit eighth in the Premier League having lost five of their opening 10 matches and are outside the Champions League knock-out qualification places.

Ten Hag has built a no-nonsense reputation since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 – and has had issues with a number of players since his appointment, most recently Jadon Sancho.

The hardline Dutchman has been applauded for the way he has ruthlessly dealt with a number of issues involving high profile members of his squad over the past 18 months.

However, Mail Sport has learned that figures within the United squad believe Ten Hag’s handling of certain individuals has had a negative impact on team togetherness.

The hardline Dutchman has been applauded for the way he has ruthlessly dealt with issues

Jadon Sancho has been exiled from United’s squad after publicly disagreeing with his manager’s public statements

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Ten Hag’s ongoing public dispute with winger Sancho has increased the scrutiny on United’s disappointing campaign thus far.

Sancho is exiled from United’s squad after publicly disagreeing with his manager’s public statements that he was left out of the squad to face Arsenal in September because of a lack of effort in training.

His refusal to apologise to Ten Hag has seen Sancho completely cut off from the first-team squad to the point where he cannot even eat with the senior squad.

It is understood that United planned to make public any private apology from Sancho, which would have been viewed as a public victory for Ten Hag.

Sancho, though, remains close with a number of players in the United squad despite his banishment. Indeed defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was photographed with the attacker in New York in September.

Ten Hag was similarly forthright in explaining why Raphael Varane was left out of the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester City on Sunday, claiming his decision to play Jonny Evans ahead of the force Real Madrid centre-back was ‘tactical’.

Last year, Ten Hag’s treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo split opinion as the Portugal legend eventually left the club for Saudi Arabia.

Ten Hag was forthright in explaining why Raphael Varane was left out of the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester City on Sunday

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