Ten Hag: Former Manchester United players could support the club instead of criticising it

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has argued that ex-players now working as pundits could look for ways to help the club rather than levelling harsh criticism at it.

Ten Hag, who was in charge at Manchester United between May 2022 and October 2024, won one League Cup and one FA Cup during his tenure. The Dutchman took charge of 128 matches in all competitions at the helm of the Red Devils, recording 70 wins, 23 draws and 35 defeats for a win rate of 54.7%.

In a wide-ranging interview, Ten Hag said he felt Cristiano Ronaldo had "let the team down" following their public fallout, and that the board had failed to keep the promises it made him over transfers.

Stressing that the legendary players who form part of the club's rich history speak without fully knowing what goes on behind the scenes, Ten Hag said:

"It's the same everywhere; everyone wants to protect their legacy from the past. It's no different at Bayern Munich or Ajax, they do exactly the same. But they are part of history, and they don't always know exactly what is going on inside. Football is constantly evolving. When it comes to United specifically, the picture is very clear: they made huge contributions to the club and brought great triumphs and trophies. That's why I have great respect for them."

Figures such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, who enjoyed enormous success under Sir Alex Ferguson, regularly comment on the club these days. Keane likened the team to a "circus" following Lisandro Martínez's reaction, while Neville tore into the performance in the Fulham game.

Although Ten Hag acknowledged that players can be worn down by such comments, he said he had always enjoyed good communication with those figures:

"To be honest, I had a very good relationship with all of them, especially Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand. I did good interviews with both of them, so what was said didn't hurt me. Of course, they have their podcasts and their own platforms. But for the players it can sometimes be really difficult; some of them are affected a lot by these comments and feel uncomfortable. The former players achieved tremendous success, but they could also give more support to the club and the current players. Support shouldn't be one-way. Still, I suppose you criticise most what you love most."