Erik ten Hag has hinted that in order to assist players like Marcus Rashford in getting back on track this season, he would have to take a direct approach.
Rashford missed Wednesday’s humiliating European defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich due to illness; this setback will probably have broader financial repercussions for the team.Despite having a great first season in command at Old Trafford, this, along with his team’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth the previous weekend, has sparked conjecture that Sunday’s matchup with Liverpool might make or break the Dutchman’s stay.
Despite playing a pivotal role in the latter part of that season, Rashford has only scored two goals in 15 games this season, demonstrating a lack of consistency in his play.
When asked if the struggling team needed more aggressive action or a more consoling strategy, Ten Hag seemed to suggest the latter.
He remarked: ‘I think for almost any player it’s an arm around the shoulder, sometimes a kick in the a***.”It can make a difference in the management which approach you are taking, a kick in the a** or an arm around the shoulder.’
The former Ajax manager has been steadfast in his behind-the-scenes interactions with players ever since joining the team.Cristiano Ronaldo stated in his now-famous conversation with Piers Morgan before quitting the team that he didn’t respect Ten Hag because the manager didn’t respect him.
Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, is still not allowed to play following a public falling out with the 53-year-old, which may cause him to leave the team in January, barely two years after he arrived for £73 million from Borussia Dortmund.
When asked if he would still be in charge if his team lost three straight games in all competitions when they went to Anfield, Ten Hag declined to comment and said his squad was still developing.
‘I’m not concerned about that. I want to win, I want to win with my team, progress the team in the right direction. We are here in a project. ‘Last season we were heading in the right direction. This season we haven’t met the standards we expect to have. That’s the truth. We have had a setback.
‘I think the future for Manchester United is very good if you see how many good players we have in the squad, how many good young players who have really high potential to play at a top level worldwide. ‘I am sure when the injured players come back this team will perform better.’