Erik ten Hag’s player relationships laid bare as ‘frequent’ complaint surfaces

What has gone wrong at Man Utd?

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has faced regular internal criticism about his personality as pressure over his future at the club ramps up, according to reports. The Dutchman’s relationship – or lack of – with a large chunk of his squad has come to light amid a disastrous start to his second season in charge.

According to The Athletic, Ten Hag is not considered close to many of his players amid concerns about his man-management skills.

The 53-year-old has brought a no-nonsense attitude to Old Trafford, applying his disciplinarian philosophy whenever one of United’s stars has stepped out of line, regardless of their status.

But his football-dominated mindset looks to have rubbed off the wrong way in some corners of the dressing room.

The report adds that there have been frequent comments made about what some players consider a lack of charisma.

It’s a believable internal frustration based on the straight-talking manner of Ten Hag’s press conferences and interviews.

He is still also working on his English, far from fluent after just 18 months in the country since leaving Ajax last April.

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READ MORE Erik ten Hag devises plan to fix broken dressing room ahead of Fulham match[NEWS]

Ten Hag united the broken dressing room he inherited after he lost his opening two games as manager – 2-1 against Brighton and Hove Albion in his Old Trafford homecoming and 4-0 at Brentford.

He joined his players on a 13.8km run the day after that collapse in west London, setting a precedent for the example he planned to set on his mission to mend the club’s culture.

And while there is growing frustration among his squad, most players reportedly don’t believe he has lost the dressing room.

The players he has splashed over £400m to bring to United since last summer will likely be among his supporters.

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However, his treatment of some of the players already at Old Trafford upon his arrival has caused some of his issues.

The Athletic claim that some of the squad believe he could’ve handled Jadon Sancho differently after exiling the 23-year-old in September. He remains excluded from the first team.

Harry Maguire was also said to be hurt by Ten Hag’s attempts to offload him in the summer transfer window while simultaneously stripping him of the captaincy.

United spent £153million to bring both players to the club, adding to the scrutiny Ten Hag faces for how he handles them.

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