Erik ten Hag has revealed how he’s been channelling his inner Fergie - by giving his Manchester United players the hairdryer treatment.
Old Trafford insiders have revealed that the Dutchman left his underperforming stars shocked with a tirade that shook the walls of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday night after United had been sent crashing out of the Europa League by Sevilla.
Ten Hag has voiced his anger before during his first season in charge - but his angry outburst left his players in no doubt that they will be booted out of the club if they fail to meet his standards.
Ten Hag himself admitted that he delivered a few harsh home truths in the style of Sir Alex Ferguson after the chastening 3-0 defeat - and he is now looking for a response when United face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Ten Hag said: “In Seville, I was really mad. For me it was so unacceptable. If you play a quarter-final in the Europa League you give everything - and we didn’t. For any club, for any team, for me that is unacceptable.
“As a manager I can’t accept that my team is not giving its best. From the team or as individuals, I will never accept it. You can make a mistake - but you then have to carry on. I make them all aware of what my analysis was, what my feelings about the game was, and what my effects of the game were.
“They just didn’t match the standards of what I expect when I manage a team in professional football.”
Brighton handed Ten Hag a 2-1 defeat in his first game in charge of United when the two teams met on the opening day of the Premier League season. The Reds have recovered to stand third in the table with just eight games left.
And they also lifted their first trophy in six years in February when they won the Carabao Cup by beating Newcastle. But the 5-2 aggregate defeat against Sevilla was a crushing blow for Ten Hag after recent poor performances at Liverpool and Newcastle.
Ten Hag said: “We spoke after the Sevilla game, that is quite clear, but also after some other games. None of the team will always play the highest level, I know that.
“But even if you don’t play at the highest level you still have to win. That is what we have to learn: how we deal with setbacks in a game.
“We have to carry on, we have to stick to the plan, we have to stick to the game, and you have to keep the confidence. So yes, we have steps to go.”
