René Meulensteen, who worked as first team coach at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, has laid into the club and Erik ten Hag, explaining where he thinks things have gone wrong under the Dutchman.
Meulensteen has been speaking to NOS about his former side’s problems, which continue to mount and were added to by the 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last night.
That result was the latest in a series of disappointing performances in a disappointing season for Manchester United, which appears to be fizzling towards a disappointing end.
Much of the blame has been laid at Ten Hag’s door, with the Dutchman continuing to insist he is the right man to lead the club under the new model being headed up by INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Meulensteen knows all about the pressures of being in the dugout at Old Trafford, having spent five years at Manchester United as coach between 2008 and 2013 under Ferguson.
The situation was obviously much better for the club at that moment in time, with Manchester United finishing as champions in three of those five seasons as well as winning the EFL Cup twice and competing in the latter stages of the Champions League.
“It is really incomprehensible what is happening now. There is simply no progress whatsoever,” he said.
“You know, as a new trainer you always have to deal with a selection that you have not put together yourself. So, it takes a few transfer periods before you get the players you want. I always say: a trainer needs eighteen months to get it right. to get on track.
“But now there is none of that optimism left. There is no playing style, club culture or philosophy. If you look at the statistics… it doesn’t make any sense. Manchester United has a goal difference of minus three!
“That (boycotting media) is really not smart. The media of course have the right to ask questions. They also see what kind of results are on the board, such as the 4-0 against Crystal Palace. Then it is logical that they ask critical questions.
“There are now just too many players who are either too old or not good enough. Or boys who have the wrong attitude.”
Ten Hag has been receiving criticism in the Dutch media as well as closer to Old Trafford. Monday evening’s defeat is widely seen as a new low and an example of how much improvement is needed at the club.
