How Jamie Carragher’s relentless criticism has finally rattled Erik ten Hag… as the Man United boss brands the pundit ‘very subjective and critical’ after his five-minute attack on the Dutchman’s tactics

Most soccer managers declare they’re impervious to the opinions of pundits and the media. You’d anticipate the straight-talking, no nonsense Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag to be certainly one of them.

But the masks slipped a bit this week when Ten Hag hit again at Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for his criticism of United this season.

‘First of all, some analysts are very goal of their feedback, [give] superb recommendation, some are very subjective,’ Ten Hag mentioned in his Tuesday press convention.

‘Jamie Carragher from the first second on has criticised and now he needs to make his level.’

It got here after Carragher – and fellow Monday Night Football visitor Gael Clichy – spent 5 minutes criticising the positioning and urgent of United’s gamers utilizing clips from Saturday’s 2-1 dwelling defeat by Fulham.

Using a large display in the Sky studio, Carragher prompt United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was not sure of the place he wanted to be positioned proper from the kick-off.

He then analysed how 4 United gamers primarily marked themselves out of competition for a Raphael Varane go throughout the first-half, resulting in a loopy spirit again when Fulham turned over the ball.

Clichy then picked aside United’s poor organisation in the lead-up to Fulham’s 97th-minute winner scored by Alex Iwobi.

Both Carragher and Clichy made very legitimate factors nevertheless it’s the regularity of the ex-Liverpool man’s criticisms that appears to have touched a nerve with Ten Hag.

So does the United boss have some extent?

October – United resemble a workforce ‘at the finish of a cycle’

At the time of those Carragher remarks in late October, United had gained three video games in a row in opposition to Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen – however none had been convincing.

Ahead of the derby with Manchester City, Carragher made the level that Ten Hag’s United had been in ‘an unfulfilling holding sample’ and surviving game-to-game by grinding out outcomes.

‘I anticipated United to turn into a superior model of Ajax when Ten Hag was appointed,’ Carragher wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

‘Ten Hag loved many distinctive outcomes at his former membership, particularly in the Champions League, so with a much bigger funds and the likelihood to teach superior gamers the blueprint appeared apparent.

‘The thought will need to have been to impose the lauded Dutch mannequin of possession soccer, in any other case what was the level of headhunting him?

‘United’s board appeared to be recognising that the least their followers anticipate is to be front-footed and thrilling.

‘No-one was demanding Ten Hag create a title-winning aspect in a single and even two years, nevertheless it was cheap to imagine the United line-up could be clearly distinguishable from the tactical set-up of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho

‘The most damning criticism is that they don’t seem to be. Their recreation plan is nearly similar.’

Carragher went on to criticise Ten Hag’s ‘poor recruitment’, saying he has ‘an excessive amount of energy and management’ over signings.

The ‘holding sample’ comment was truthful given how United have been simply drifting alongside for a few decade now. It’s additionally legitimate criticism to say Ten Hag has struggled to introduce a particular type, one thing Carragher would come again to…

October – United don’t have any identification below Ten Hag

After United had been outclassed by City in the derby, shedding 3-0 at Old Trafford, Carragher tore into Ten Hag by saying his workforce nonetheless lack a transparent identification.

It got here amid a turbulent first few months of the season which noticed United battle each at dwelling and in Europe.

‘None of us right here can clarify what Manchester United attempt to do when it comes to how they play,’ Carragher mentioned on Sky Sports.

‘He [Ten Hag] has been right here now almost 18 months. We’ve seen Unai Emery are available in at Aston Villa, we have seen Ange Postecoglou are available in at Tottenham.

‘In a brief house of time, it doesn’t suggest you win each week, however if you go to the video games you understand what you are going to see.

‘We nonetheless do not know what we will see with Manchester United. You inform me how they play with the ball.’

Carragher added that United’s lack of route on the pitch couldn’t be blamed on the possession saga which at that time was nonetheless ongoing.

‘What he is doing on the coaching pitch Monday to Friday has received nothing to do with Jim Ratcliffe coming in,’ he added.

‘What does he need these gamers to do? When they’re constructing from the again – and we see each high workforce in the league do it – what are Manchester United attempting to do with the ball?’

Carragher actually had some extent – we’re nonetheless none the wiser as to the identification of Ten Hag’s United.

He has mentioned it is unimaginable for them to play like his previous membership Ajax and his goal to make them ‘the greatest transition workforce in the world’ would not look like coming to fruition.

Not getting the desired signings like Frenkie de Jong, the now-resolved possession scenario and accidents have all supplied Ten Hag mitigation for poor outcomes nevertheless it’s removed from convincing.

December – ‘Clutching at straws’ after European exit

After United crashed out of the Champions League – and Europe fully – with a timid efficiency in opposition to Bayern Munich in December, Ten Hag claimed his workforce ‘did not need to lose’.

But that did not wash with Carragher, who was a CBS Sports pundit that night time and claimed Ten Hag was attempting to minimise the harm forward of United’s go to to Anfield a couple of days later.

‘I feel what occurs is as a result of it has been so poor for Manchester United this season, you are taking part in certainly one of the high groups in Europe, and you’re lacking injured gamers,’ Carragher mentioned.

‘I feel it is nearly a case of as a result of you have not been crushed 3-0 or 4-0, 1-0 really feels OK. You’re in the recreation for an hour.

‘He’s most likely watching the recreation considering we’re nonetheless on this and it is nearly like a slight feel-good issue.

‘Because you lose 3-0 to Bournemouth, you are now taking part in certainly one of the giants of European soccer and you solely lose 1-0, he is attempting to take one thing from it to then get to Sunday.

‘That shall be the message to the gamers, ‘you had been taking part in certainly one of the high groups in Europe, something may’ve occurred, we have to go to Anfield now and attempt to produce some form of efficiency.’

‘A outcome appears actually powerful on paper however I feel that is only a supervisor attempting to clutch at straws.’

It was troublesome to agree with Ten Hag – United produced a meek efficiency once they wanted to get a outcome in opposition to Bayern, producing only one shot on goal.

But he did get a response as United performed effectively at Anfield and got here away with an sudden level in a goalless draw.

December – Criticism over beginning Amrabat

United emerged with credit score from the goalless draw at Anfield however that did not cease Carragher criticising Ten Hag’s resolution to play Sofyan Amrabat, who struggled to maintain up with Liverpool’s attackers.

‘I do not know why they’re taking part in a man-to-man system. He [Amrabat] cannot run!’

The Moroccan picked up a reserving for bringing down Luis Diaz in the 35th minute however full the full recreation as United picked up an sudden level.

Unfortunately, it’s true that Amrabat hasn’t precisely shone throughout his mortgage spell from Fiorentina.

December – Neville ought to take over from Ten Hag

A depressing 2-0 loss at West Ham on December 23 punctured the Christmas cheer for United followers. It was their eighth league lack of the marketing campaign and left them down in eighth in the desk.

Afterwards, a comparability between Ten Hag’s file to that time this season and Gary Neville’s file from his dreadful spell in command of Valencia was posted on social media.

It confirmed that Ten Hag’s United had misplaced 13 of 26 video games in comparison with 11 losses from 28 for Neville.

Unable to withstand a bit dig at each Ten Hag and Neville, Carragher wrote: ‘Give it Gary until the finish of the season.’

It’s unlikely anybody of a United persuasion noticed the humorous aspect. At least they did reply with a couple of victories after that to enhance Ten Hag’s dire file.

January – Ten Hag ‘lacks charisma’

Last month, as United languished seventh in the Premier League desk, Carragher tore into Ten Hag’s character throughout an look on the Stick to Football podcast.

‘My fear with Ten Hag is that once I was him final season, he jogged my memory a little bit of [Rafa] Benitez,’ Carragher mentioned.

‘He did not have nice charisma, in press conferences he is very straight and seemed like he did not need to be there – Benitez was comparable, however he was high drawer on the coaching pitch.

‘I believed that was Ten Hag final season when United had been doing effectively, that he actually is aware of the recreation however hasn’t received an enormous character.

‘So if he is not getting stuff on the pitch tactically effectively, then there is not a lot else as a result of I do not see the gamers loving him or lifting their recreation.’

Carragher additionally prompt that Steve McClaren’s place on Ten Hag’s teaching workers is perhaps dragging United again 20 years in an effort to imitate what used to work effectively for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ten Hag undeniably is not the most charismatic of coaches – he is not a Jurgen Klopp, to call one instance. But being charismatic is not a prerequisite for fulfillment in a outcomes enterprise.

Ironically, United gained 5 video games in a row after Carragher’s feedback earlier than shedding to Fulham.