Erik ten Hag has responded strongly to recent criticism from former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy, who joined the chorus of football figures questioning the under-fire manager’s leadership.
After a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United’s struggles have left them in 12th place after just six matches.
The Red Devils salvaged a point against Porto on Thursday with a last-minute equalizer from Harry Maguire, but pressure continues to mount on Ten Hag.
Several United legends, including Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand, have voiced harsh critiques of the Dutchman’s performance. Earlier this week, McCarthy added his sharp comments, suggesting that Ten Hag “lacks a bit of fire and passion.”
McCarthy’s remarks added to the growing calls for the 54-year-old manager to step up or face further scrutiny.
In an interview with TNT Sports ahead of United’s 3-3 draw with Porto, Ten Hag fired back, defending his tenure at the club. “I don’t know what he means,” Ten Hag said in response to McCarthy’s comments. “When you win trophies, you can’t do this without passion and desire.”
McCarthy, speaking to Portuguese outlet ZEROZERO, explained his view, saying that in modern football, players look to their coach for passion and motivation.
“Players want to feel that the coach is with them, fighting alongside them,” McCarthy said. “Tactically, I think Erik is at the top, but he lacks that fire, that passion. That’s where we differ.”
The South African also criticized some players for their lack of intensity during training, noting that two players, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, consistently gave their all. “If more players had the work ethic of Bruno and Diogo, the results might have been different,” McCarthy added. “Some weren’t training at their best, and this affected the team’s overall performance.”
With growing speculation about Ten Hag’s future, reports suggest that sacking him could cost Manchester United £17.5 million, given the contract extension he received over the summer.
Potential replacements have already been mentioned, including former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi and ex-England manager Gareth Southgate, who remains linked to the position.
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