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Erik ten Hag had so much to get off his chest about his turbulent Manchester United tenure that it couldn't be contained within a single explosive interview.
After tearing into Cristiano Ronaldo's work ethic, pointing fingers at Real Madrid's discarded players for the "toxic culture" at the club, and lamenting his numerous failed transfer pursuits, Ten Hag still had plenty more to unload.
The Dutch manager would eventually wrap up his long-delayed debrief in a second sit-down with The Athletic, offering even deeper insight into his disastrous spell in charge.
'Very Weird'—How Jadon Sancho Forced Man Utd Into $115 Million Disaster
Jadon Sancho was a constant source of controversy throughout Ten Hag's tenure. The high-priced winger was ultimately frozen out of first-team duties after refusing to apologize for publicly criticizing his manager. Yet just two days before the "scapegoat" row erupted, Sancho had already handed Ten Hag an even bigger headache.
The Dutch boss took the surprising step of blaming Sancho for inadvertently pushing United into squandering over $115 million (£86 million) on the signing of Antony.
"There came up a problem because Sancho didn't want to play on the right side; he said that," Ten Hag explained. "Which was very weird; he played often on the right. He said he felt more comfortable on the left. So there we had an issue, and we were late."
United rushed headlong into a staggering deal that never came close to justifying its price tag. Over his two-and-a-half disappointing years in Manchester, Antony managed just 12 goals across 96 appearances.
The Secret Reason Behind Man Utd's Worst Season in 34 Years
According to Ten Hag, the root causes of Manchester United's dreadful 2023–24 campaign—which saw them finish eighth, their lowest top-flight placing in 34 years at the time—predated Antony's arrival at the club.
"The tour was so much expectation on the players," Ten Hag fretted about a preseason schedule spent criss-crossing the United States. "We got exhausted from all the kilometers. We started in New York, we played in Houston, we played in Vegas, went back, we gave them a couple of days off, and then we didn't train proper tactical and physical work for 10 days because they were totally killed ... We were never fit."
For a manager as meticulous as Ten Hag—this is a man, after all, who emailed his players instructions on what color socks to wear to team dinners—having such a significant portion of preseason stripped from his control was always going to be a source of frustration.
It did United's players no favors either. A relentless injury crisis forced Ten Hag into constant squad reshuffling. Just two outfield players made more than 30 Premier League starts for the Red Devils that season. "So it's almost impossible to get automatism in," he lamented. "But I know at the top, it's about the result."
The Curious Case of Alejandro Garnacho
Ralf Rangnick handed Alejandro Garnacho his senior debut, but it was Ten Hag who watched the unpredictable winger develop into one of United's most exciting talents. During the Dutch boss's second and final full season at Old Trafford, a 19-year-old Garnacho hit double figures for club goals while racking up an impressive 50 appearances. Yet just over two years on, Garnacho finds himself warming Aston Villa's bench. "I regret where he is now," Ten Hag admitted.
"He's a character, you have to manage him, but I had a strong connection with him," Ten Hag said warmly. "But it's also up to him, of course, but he needs a coach, a particular coach, who will give him trust, who will give him love. He needs the love, definitely. But he's an amazing player. What's so special about him is he can run all day, high volume at really high speed, all game, back and forward.
"Sometimes his head is not on defending. So mentally, his mindset, you have to make sure he is focused and disciplined and does the job every transition, but he's capable of doing it and attacking-wise he can go forward and do incredible things, making dribbles, finishing. He can do the final pass, but sometimes he's a little bit selfish."
Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand's Impact on Man Utd Players
Playing for Manchester United is unlike almost any other club in football. Beyond the pressures of the modern game, every decision is ruthlessly scrutinized by a host of former players who have become major media figures in the sport. The likes of Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand, both decorated defenders, were specifically mentioned by Ten Hag.
"Sometimes it's difficult for players," the Dutch coach admitted. "Some of them get affected by it, get annoyed by it. They achieved massive successes.
"But also, they can help the club more, help the players more. There should be two ways that they support it. But I think always the thing you most love, you most criticize."
Ten Hag himself had no personal grievances with the pundits. "It's everywhere the same; they always want to protect their legacies," he shrugged.
"It's no different than Bayern Munich or Ajax; they do the same. But they are [part of United's] history, and they do not always know what's going on. Football evolves. For United, it's clear: they had great contributions, they achieved massive results, trophies for the club and for themselves, so I respect them."
What Marcus Rashford Needs to Reignite His Man Utd Career
For all his shortcomings, Ten Hag had a knack for getting the best out of Rashford. United's polarizing England international famously enjoyed the most productive season of his career under the Dutchman, netting 30 goals across all competitions in 2022–23.
Rather than claiming full credit for that surge in form, Ten Hag pointed to Rashford's partnership with the often-underrated Wout Weghorst. The imposing target man spent just six months on loan at Old Trafford but forged a strong bond with his lively teammate. In the pair's first 10 appearances together, Rashford contributed 11 goals and assists.
"Wout was one of the reasons Rashford was so important," Ten Hag insisted.
"Wout did well for us; what he took out of his career is amazing. Like Marcel Sabitzer. We got success, winning the League Cup, third position; we were a team because they worked hard."
Rashford's current struggles at Manchester United have largely been attributed to a persistent hip injury picked up during the World Cup. Nevertheless, Ten Hag's suggestion that a traditional central striker could unlock more from the winger remains a compelling idea.
Scathing Realism of Man Utd's Premier League Aspirations
Ten Hag guided United to third in his debut season before the collapse to eighth, yet remained defiant about what the club could have achieved had he not been dismissed in 2024. "We could have won the title if we had continued on building," he claimed, with a straight face. "But in that time we were not consistent enough; the squad was not good enough to win it."
After watching United tumble all the way to 15th under Ruben Amorim before Michael Carrick's rescue act last term, Ten Hag's assessment of United's Premier League title prospects has only grown more sobering.
"Expectations at United are so huge, everyone is expecting the team to win the league every year. But be fair, United at that time, and also definitely two years after, are not able to win the league." It's hard to argue.