Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has launched a passionate defence of under-pressure Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, delivering a blistering critique of the club's underperforming players in a sensational talkSPORT rant.
'Players Need to Look in the Mirror'
Jordan didn't hold back in his assessment of where the real problems lie at Old Trafford, stating emphatically that the players should shoulder responsibility for the team's disappointing performances rather than the Dutch manager.
"The narrative building around ten Hag being the problem is completely misguided," Jordan declared. "These highly-paid footballers need to take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror instead of pointing fingers at the manager."
Passionate Defence Amid Growing Pressure
With Manchester United sitting eighth in the Premier League and facing elimination from European competition, pressure has been mounting on ten Hag's position. However, Jordan argued that sacking another manager would simply continue the cycle of failure that has plagued the club since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.
"How many managers do we need to see go through the Old Trafford revolving door before people realise the common denominator isn't the man in the dugout?" Jordan questioned during his emotional defence.
The Real Problem at Manchester United
Jordan identified several key issues that he believes are undermining ten Hag's efforts:
- Player attitude and application falling well below required standards
- Lack of accountability among highly-paid stars
- Inconsistent performances from established internationals
- Cultural problems within the squad that predate ten Hag's arrival
"We're talking about players earning hundreds of thousands of pounds per week who can't perform basic professional duties consistently," Jordan fumed. "That's not a managerial problem - that's a player problem."
A Call for Patience and Perspective
The outspoken pundit urged the Manchester United hierarchy and fans to show patience with ten Hag, reminding listeners of the progress made during his first season and the ongoing injury crisis that has hampered this campaign.
"This is a manager who delivered Champions League football and a trophy in his first season," Jordan emphasised. "He deserves time and support to work through this difficult period, not knee-jerk reactions from people who should know better."
Jordan's powerful intervention comes at a critical moment for ten Hag, whose future has become the subject of intense speculation following the team's inconsistent start to the season.
