admin Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has questioned some of the methods employed by Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford following the club’s poor form.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Erik ten Hag made a mistake in trying to treat Manchester United players with the methods he favored at Ajax.
Ten Hag, 53, received rave reviews in his first year at Old Trafford, but this season he is under pressure. The Dutchman oversaw the club’s worst start to a season in 34 years and was booed on the pitch by fans after their loss to Crystal Palace at the weekend.
United’s board have identified Ten Hag as the man to rebuild the club following his impressive work at Ajax, where he won three Dutch titles in four years. However, expectations are much higher at United than at Ajax – something Ibrahimovic was keen to emphasize when discussing his former club’s current difficulties.
In an interview with TalkTV, Ibrahimovic spoke about the need for a different approach at Manchester United due to the caliber of players at the club. However, he believes Ten Hag has treated the top players he now manages in the same way as his former team Ajax.
He said: “Going from Ajax to United like he did was a big difference. I’ve been at both clubs. You have a different type of discipline. Ajax is a talented club power. They have the best talent at the club. They don’t have any big stars.
“How experienced is this coach? Young talent, he comes to United, it’s a different mentality. The players there are supposed to be big stars.I don’t think you’re being treated like that.”
The pressure is starting to mount on Ten Hag after United’s chaotic start to the season. Their defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday means the club have lost four of their opening seven matches. Championship match for the first time in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag defends his players as they play this weekend before admitting his team needs to improve in the coming weeks. However, he hit back at claims the club had made of a lack of progress during his time as premier ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting with Galatasaray in the Champions League.
He said: “I think I don’t agree with that [lack of progress]. The team is moving forward, but we have to make adjustments as well. When you don’t have a left-back [fit], we have to change and we did. At the end of the day, it’s about results and we didn’t get the result we were looking for, which is very disappointing.”
United head into Tuesday night’s needing a result after losing their opening group game 4-3 against Bayern Munich last month. FC Copenhagen are the other team in Group A.
