Why did former Man United assistant McCarthy question Erik ten Hoag’s leadership?

New Delhi: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hoag has been heavily criticized for his team’s poor performances. Former Manchester United first-team coach Benny McCarthy is the latest critic to join the list. McCarthy remained part of the club until this summer, before going back into management after two years.

In a recent media interaction, McCarthy expressed concern about ten Hoag’s coaching style and said it lacked the passion required of modern football. Commenting on the recent on-field performance, the South African manager felt the team needed to see him as more than a tactician and someone who was “fighting” with them.

McCarthy praised ten Haag’s tactical awareness but said he lacked passion. With back-to-back losses at home at Old Trafford, ten Hoag’s methods are a concern for United. Last Sunday’s 0-3 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur left United 12th in the Premier League points table and just four points above the relegation points zone.

After the match, Ten Haag said the team needed time to regroup. The United manager claims he is not worried about being sacked by the club’s top management. He commented that the top brass at United had decided to rebuild the squad and wanted him back at the club.

🗣️ Benny McCarthy: “If some of the Manchester United players have what Bruno (Fernandez) and Diogo (Dalot) have, it’s easy to get good results.

They both trained with incredible concentration, giving everything they had. Others did not do the same. pic.twitter.com/crzMbJuUac

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— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 1, 2024

Poor training standards at Manchester United

As United face Porto in their UEFA Europa League clash, where McCarthy played for three years, he suggests there are still more problems beyond Ten Haag’s tactics. McCarthy, who is awaiting his next coaching assignment, criticized the training standards at United. He said that while players like Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot give their all in a training session, not all players match this kind of work ethic.

Ten Hag’s side suffered a disappointing stalemate in the Europa League against FC Twente earlier in the week and will look for a better performance against Porto. The recent performance raises questions about the dynamics at the club. The upcoming games will determine whether the Dutch manager’s calm and calculated approach will help United turn their season around and put them on the rebuilding path.