Since the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United have never regained their former splendor. A true ogre of the Premier League and Europe from the 1990s to the 2010s, the club has since plunged into the soft underbelly of its championship, sometimes even descending a little lower. Coaches have come and gone, but the recruitment policy and management of leaders have been obstacles to recovery. After being on the Mancunian bench, Erik ten Hag did not leave many good memories.
The former coach of Olympique Lyonnais therefore managed Manchester United from July 1, 2022 to October 28, 2024. A total of 128 matches and in the process, two titles won, with the League Cup in 2023 and an FA Cup in 2024. Not so bad compared to those who preceded or followed him, but not enough to mask the tensions within the group.
Tensions that resurface even years later when the subject is raised. A former Mancunian player now playing for Atletico Mineiro, Fred has not forgotten his former coach. In an interview with the Charla podcast, the attacking midfielder first recognized the Dutchman’s tactical abilities:
“Tactically, one of the best I’ve ever worked with. » But he immediately cited the bad side of Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag seen by Fred
“With the band, he was a real asshole. He argued with everyone. He argued with me, with Cristiano (Ronaldo)with Casemiro, with (Marcus)
Rashford. » It was in fact under his orders that Cristiano Ronaldo, returning to United after years spent at Real Madrid and Juventus, decided to suddenly slam the door in the middle of the season, choosing to be transferred to Al-Nassr. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner criticized the technician’s attitude in a long interview given to his journalist friend, Piers Morgan.
Fred has finished his speech. “He didn’t make me play, sometimes it was stressful. Only its Dutch players played. (It was) a trainer who lived in a clan. »
