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Manchester United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, has taken a moment to address the recent critical remarks made by several prominent figures in English football, including pundit Jamie Redknapp, with whom he has exchanged barbs.
The latest spat erupted when Redknapp labeled Ten Hag’s decision to bench Marcus Rashford against Crystal Palace as “crazy” and suggested there was a disciplinary motive behind it. Ten Hag had previously touched on Rashford’s off-field lifestyle prior to their goalless stalemate at Selhurst Park, leading former striker Alan Shearer to echo Redknapp’s sentiments, questioning whether all was well between the player and manager.
In response to the ongoing discourse, Ten Hag initially responded with gusto. However, he has now expressed a degree of openness to the criticism received, albeit without naming specific pundits he values. “Some pundits offer very good advice,” he remarked during his pre-match press conference ahead of today’s clash with Tottenham.
This represents a notable shift in Ten Hag’s approach, as he has previously shown little patience for dissenting opinions. In a fiery encounter with Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman following United’s 3-0 drubbing by Liverpool in early September, he stated he felt “sorry for him,” showcasing his frustration towards critics.
Redknapp had raised eyebrows when suggesting that an incident may have occurred between Rashford and Ten Hag, particularly given that Rashford had netted three goals in just two games leading up to his omission against Palace. “It feels like something has gone amiss. You don’t bench a player who has excelled midweek against Barnsley and also found the net against Southampton,” Redknapp asserted on Sky Sports.
He also noted, “It’s rather unusual for a manager to publicly discuss a player’s lifestyle—something Sir Alex Ferguson would have refrained from, in contrast to Ten Hag who, at times, takes a different approach. That’s not typically advantageous for the player.”
In his rebuttal, Ten Hag sharply criticized the speculation swirling around his decision. “I’ve already heard the gossip from pundits, and I find it utterly ridiculous. It almost reflects poorly on those voicing such opinions if they’re entirely in the dark about the situation,” he responded. The Manchester United boss emphasized that Rashford needs to “get his life sorted” to regain peak form.
Shearer suggested that the benching of Rashford indicated deeper issues behind the scenes. However, Ten Hag clarified, “This was simply a matter of rotation. We’ve got a busy schedule and need to give all players a fair shot based on performance. Ultimately, the players who deliver will secure more playing time.” He reassured fans of his satisfaction with Rashford’s overall performance, stressing that his benching was unrelated to the player’s ability and purely tactical.
Ten Hag reiterated, “I didn’t comprehend the criticism thrown our way. Individuals can voice opinions, yet speculating about underlying issues is unwarranted. When I choose to explain my decisions, it should be respected. Those who choose skepticism are misguided.” With United having drawn 1-1 against his former club FC Twente in the Europa League since the saga, Ten Hag’s tone appears to have mellowed, indicating a newfound willingness to engage with feedback.
