<\/div>\nPLAYER RIFTS AND A \u2018TOXIC\u2019 DRESSING ROOM<\/b><\/p>\n
Ten Hag is noted for his harsh discipline and cold intensity – which was reportedly one of the key reasons why the club poached him from Ajax in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cStrict lines is what the club asked me because there was no good culture before I entered last season,\u201d said Ten Hag this September.<\/p>\n
Last season he was praised for his handling of a feud with Cristiano Ronaldo, after the Portuguese player fumed at being used mostly as a substitute. Ronaldo left the stadium during one match after being taken from the field, and then refused to be substituted on for the final three minutes against Tottenham in October 2022. He was subsequently axed from the squad for the next game against Chelsea.<\/p>\n
Then the Portuguese great went nuclear in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying he had \u201cno respect\u201d for Ten Hag and claiming the club had \u201cbetrayed\u201d him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interview I think, as a club, you can\u2019t accept,\u201d Ten Hag said. \u201cThere will be consequences. To make that step he knew the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was quite clear after [the interview] that he had to leave. I think we didn\u2019t have to discuss it. It was quite clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo subsequently moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.<\/p>\n
Then, in September, Ten Hag axed Jadon Sancho from the first-team squad, forcing him to train and eat away from the senior players.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. (Photo by PETER POWELL \/ AFP)<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt came after Sancho publicly hit out at comments from Ten Hag after being dropped for a crucial match against Arsenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cJadon, on his performances in training we did not select him,\u201d Ten Hag said at the time.<\/p>\n
Sancho took to social media to say: \u201cPlease don\u2019t believe everything you read! I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won\u2019t go into, I\u2019ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn\u2019t fair!<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to the team. I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and I am grateful to do so, which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sancho refused to apologise to Ten Hag and has been frozen out for three months now, with a transfer a near-certainty in January\u2019s window.<\/p>\n
There were widespread reports that Ten Hag\u2019s harsh treatment of Sancho had caused tension in the dressing room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what I\u2019ve been hearing… from a Man United player who told someone I know very well,\u201d former Manchester United player Alan Brazil said on talkSPORT. \u201cHe said the players are not having the manager. They\u2019re not having him at all. By all accounts, they are disgusted by the way he treated Ronaldo – and they say Sancho is a great guy who works his socks off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other players have also showed signs of frustration with the manager. Marcus Rashford had a stroppy reaction to being substituted off amid a dismal individual performance against Newcastle, while Anthony Martial raised his arms in frustration after Ten Hag shouted in his direction in the same game. Ten Hag has also had a falling out with World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane in recent weeks. <\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Raphael Varane at a training session. (Photo by Matt McNulty\/Getty Images)<\/span>Source: Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPaul Merson told Sky Sports in November: \u201cThis needs to get sorted out but personally I think it is toxic, I don\u2019t take too much notice of behind the scenes, but it is toxic on the pitch and that is where it counts… There are ways of losing football matches and, for me, he has lost the players.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club then took the drastic action to ban journalists from ESPN, the Daily Mirror, the Manchester Evening News and Sky Sports after all those outlets reported on tensions in the dressing room.<\/p>\n
The club and Ten Hag were heavily criticised for that move, which Manchester United claimed was not due to the reporters panning the club, but because they did not give United the right of reply.<\/p>\n
But the dressing-room tensions combined with the battle with the press has been an ugly distraction.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Ten Hag) has got to be worried and thinking about what\u2019s going to happen now,\u201d United great Jaap Stam told the Stick to Football podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can ban players, but it\u2019s also about man management of course and how to work with and handle players.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was the [Cristiano] Ronaldo thing, the [Jadon] Sancho thing, Raphael Varane probably – I don\u2019t know if something\u2019s happened over there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s the thing with the press now and banning journalists from press conferences. It doesn\u2019t work in your favour as a manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to have peace and quiet\u2026 you don\u2019t want to pay too much attention to other things like players and the press.\u201d<\/p>\n
But midfielder Scott McTominay came out and backed the manager, denying reports of a \u2018toxic\u2019 dressing room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just a case like with some of the other managers where it\u2019s been a little bit toxic at times,\u201d McTominay said. \u201cThe boys are firmly behind the manager. That\u2019s the be-all and end-all and the way it will remain. We\u2019ve got an amazing coaching staff, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nAnge all smiles after 2nd straight win | 02:49<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nSTYLISTIC REGRESSION AND THE BIG GOAL PROBLEM<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to dominate opponents, we want to play proactive football, we want to play dynamic football,\u201d Ten Hag told Sky Sports earlier this season. \u201cPressing is a part of it. The in-possession stuff also has to be right.\u201d<\/p>\n
It sounds like a clear tactical plan, an approach being built by Ten Hag over his 18 months in charge. The truth is far different. In his first season, United played in a more transitional style – which brought success. But this season, trying to play a more fluid and possession-based style (which brought Ten Hag great success at Ajax) has been a shambles.<\/p>\n
United often appear to lake cohesiveness on and off the ball. Players appear frustrated or unclear on where they are meant to be positioned or their roles in the structure.<\/p>\n
United have been pressing well at times – this season, no Premier League teams has made more turnovers in advanced positions.<\/p>\n
But they are extremely vulnerable to the counter-attack, such as against Bournemouth in a bruising defeat, while their style of pressing is often porous, allowing opponents to expose gaps and stretch the defence.<\/p>\n
The defensive line itself has been little better than a shambles, vacillating between a high line and a tendency to drop back to mitigate their lack of pace compared to opposition forwards.<\/p>\n
In possession, the \u201cdynamic\u201d football Ten Hag speaks of has been far from the reality on the pitch. United struggle horribly to play the ball out from the back, while their midfielders give away possession frequently. They cannot \u201cdominate opponents\u201d with their midfield incapable of controlling the ball in the centre of the park – an area where Bayern Munich comfortably outclassed them.<\/p>\n
With Bruno Fernandes further up the pitch, United lack the sort of deep-lying playmaker capable of progressing the ball either by passing or carrying, as Declan Rice does so well for Arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Pressure is mounting. (Photo by PETER POWELL \/ AFP)<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPaul Merson told Sky Sports earlier in the season: \u201cYou watch Man Utd play and you just don\u2019t see the pattern of play. It\u2019s like if it comes off, it comes off. You watch Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City play, they have patterns of play. Someone will go in and come back out, but at Man Utd, it\u2019s get the ball out wide and hope that Rashford does something and if he does, we might score a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
But scoring goals has been a major problem, with just 18 goals in 16 appearances. Rashford has suffered a shocking decline in form after a career-best 30 goals in all competitions last season.<\/p>\n
That saw him earn a hefty contract upgrade, but he has scored just twice this season – with one of those from the penalty spot. New striker signing Rasmus Hojlund is goalless in 12 league appearances, the same as Antony, while Anthony Martial has just one goal in 13. <\/p>\n
United\u2019s lack of goals contributed significantly to the team suffering their worst-ever Premier League start through seven games, and things have hardly improved since then.<\/p>\n
Only three teams in Europe\u2019s top five leagues have lost more games in all competitions this season than United (12). Those 12 defeats from 24 matches is as many as United lost in all 62 matches last season!<\/p>\n
They lost two home games in the Champions League and in their six group stage games, conceded a total of 15 goals – the most ever by a Premier League club in a Champions League group stage.<\/p>\n
Even when they have been winning, like November when Ten Hag was awarded Premier League manager of the month for three wins and no goals conceded, the performances haven\u2019t matched the results. <\/p>\n
Crisis has never seemed far away.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\n‘No coincidence we’re looking stronger’ | 02:36<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nINJURIES AND ABSENTEES PROVIDE AN EXCUSE<\/b><\/p>\n
Many Premier League clubs have battled long injury lists this season, including Ange Postecoglou\u2019s Spurs, Newcastle, and Chelsea. But Manchester United have faced plenty of injury challenges of their own.<\/p>\n
When they travel to Anfield on Monday morning (AEDT), the Red Devils will be without 11 first-team players. The host of injured stars includes Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Christian Eriksen (knee) and Amad Diallo (knee), while Mason Mount (calf) also hasn\u2019t played in a month.<\/p>\n
Luke Shaw has recovered from a thigh issue he suffered in the first half against Bayern Munich, but November Premier League player of the month Harry Maguire will be missing with a groin injury. <\/p>\n
Marcus Rashford has recovered from a mid-week illness that saw him miss the Munich game, but Anthony Martial is still unwell, while Victor Lindelof trained this week but is listed as doubtful for the Liverpool game.<\/p>\n
Captain Bruno Fernandes will be missing after a suspension for accumulating too many cards, and Jadon Sancho is still in exile.<\/p>\n
Fernandes\u2019 absence is perhaps the biggest blow. He has three goals and three assists this season for United, meaning he has been directly involved in a third of their 18 goals. No other Premier League midfielder has played every minute of the season so far, and he leads the league in chances created with 47.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Fernandes\u2019 absence is a tough blow. (Photo by PETER POWELL \/ AFP)<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere have been other ugly off-field dramas that have ruled players out of matches this year, such as when big-money winger Antony missed three games while being investigated over abuse claims from multiple ex-partners.<\/p>\n
And young talent Mason Greenwood was offloaded to Spain after police withdrew multiple charges of domestic violence and abuse after his partner stopped cooperating with an investigation.<\/p>\n
The long list of injuries has been a crucial factor in why Ten Hag has not been under more pressure, despite 12 losses in 24 games (all competitions).<\/p>\n
But the real reason that he retains the support of the Manchester United hierarchy is that a long-awaited partial sale of the club is nearing completion – and it will significantly alter the decision-making at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
THE OWNERSHIP CHANGE TO SHAKE UP RED DEVILS<\/b><\/p>\n
The billionaire American Glazer family has been controlling owners of Manchester United since 2005, when they purchased the club for \u00a3790 million.
Their 18-year tenure has been marked by a lack of effective leadership, poor long-term planning, limited investment, and a tendency to sack managers frequently. Fans have regularly protested the Glazers throughout their reign, and their prayers appeared to have been answered early this year when the Glazers announced they would explore a sale of the club.<\/p>\n
But despite multiple offers, the Glazers backflipped on a complete sale and instead cut a deal with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy 25 per cent of the club for around 1.3 billion pounds ($A2.46bn). <\/p>\n
The deal will see Ratcliffe, who owns INEOS Grenadiers cycling team as well as French top-flight club OGC Nice, take control of all football operations – including transfers as well as managerial appointments.<\/p>\n
The deal is expected to be completed in the next week, according to reports from the UK, but will take six to eight weeks to be ratified by the Premier League.<\/p>\n
However, Ratcliffe\u2019s sporting guru Sir Dave Brailsford, INEOS\u2019 sporting director who is set to lead the new football department at Old Trafford, has already been conducting a full audit of Manchester United.<\/p>\n
<\/amp-ima-video><\/p>\nEPL wrap: United & Arsenal lose | 04:06<\/p>\n
<\/div>\nSky Sports reports that Brailsford\u2019s top priority is to fix the football department\u2019s operational structure rather than focus on managerial changes.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, United\u2019s interim boss Patrick Stewart and football director John Murtough are seen as unwilling to change managers before INEOS takes over full control – especially since Murtough signed Ten Hag in the first place and allowed the new manager to splash the cash in the transfer market. Stewart has only been in the role a month, and would hardly want to make such a big decision.<\/p>\n
But Ratcliffe and Brailsford are no strangers to hiring and firing managers – they\u2019ve changed managers at Nice four times in the last five years but with precious little success. <\/p>\n
They even interviewed former Chelsea boss Graham Potter in mid-year for the head coaching role at the French club, with Sky Sports and The Sun both reporting Potter is a chief contender to take over at United should Ten Hag be relieved of his role.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag is confident he has the support of the current club hierarchy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that and they tell (me) that,\u201d the Dutchman said ahead of the Liverpool clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s fine, that\u2019s OK but I\u2019m focusing on the process, I\u2019m focusing on making this team play better, I\u2019m focusing on making the individuals better. That\u2019s my concern. That\u2019s all I\u2019m doing \u2013 focusing on the right thing and that is the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no concern because I\u2019m here to win and I have to make the team play better. If you play good, even then good is not good enough. We are inconsistent so I have to work on the team playing for longer periods on a higher level.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the pressure is rising as the losses mount up. One more loss could tip things over the edge.<\/p>\n<\/amp-img>Things are threatening to seriously unravel. (Photo by PETER POWELL \/ AFP)<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWHY LIVERPOOL MATCH COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING<\/b><\/p>\n
Manchester United will travel to Anfield in a match that pits two teams that are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.<\/p>\n
While the Red Devils are crumbling, the Reds are flying – top of the table, a perfect seven wins from seven at home (21 scored, five conceded), and with Mohamed Salah recently scoring his 200th goal for the club. <\/p>\n
The Egyptian talisman has picked up a goal or assist in 16 consecutive home games and he\u2019s scored more goals against Man United than any other club (12).<\/p>\n
United, meanwhile, haven\u2019t won any of their last 13 away games against teams starting the day in the top eight on the ladder, a run dating back to October 2021.<\/p>\n
And when the two teams met last season at Anfield, the Reds handed out a 7-0 thrashing. It was United\u2019s equal-heaviest competitive defeat in history and their worst since December 1931.<\/p>\n
In fact, Manchester United hasn\u2019t won at Anfield since Jurgen Klopp\u2019s first experience of the famous rivalry back in January 2016, when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal. <\/p>\n
Since then, Rooney has played for three clubs, retired, then managed three. Klopp\u2019s Reds have won the Premier League and the Champions League. <\/p>\n
And Manchester United have sacked four managers.<\/p>\n
While there\u2019s no appetite among the current leadership at Old Trafford to make it five, another big defeat at Anfield could make Ten Hag\u2019s position almost untenable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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