Erik ten Hag has criticised Manchester United's "toxic culture" and the power given to players in an interview following the expiry of his non-disclosure agreement with the club.
Speaking to The Athletic in his hometown of Enschede in the Netherlands, Ten Hag discussed "broken promises", top transfer targets he missed out on, and his fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo. He also threw his support behind current manager Michael Carrick while suggesting the board have continued to enable a "toxic culture" in the dressing room.
Discipline issues with Rashford
Ten Hag said he was not supported in sanctions on several matters of player discipline, including with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. He explained: "And so, they are continuing the toxic culture. They fuel it, they give the power to the players. Rashford is an amazing player, if his mindset is right. I always showed my trust in him, played him, but when you show these standards, sometimes you have to make corrections."
United have made their worst start to a Premier League campaign for 40 years, but a poor dressing-room culture has not been a contributing factor this season. However, it was an issue Ten Hag had to contend with, as did his successor Ruben Amorim, who banished a few players to create a more harmonious group.
Rashford's reintegration
Rashford scored 30 goals in Ten Hag's first season and was rewarded with a contract worth £350,000 per week in June 2023, but their relationship soured the following campaign. After a nightclub trip following a defeat to Manchester City, Ten Hag branded it "unacceptable", and Rashford was forced to apologise.
Two months later, Rashford made a trip to Belfast just days before United's FA Cup fourth-round match against Newport County. The episode led to Rashford's brother and representative, Dwaine Maynard, being called to Carrington, and Rashford missed the Newport game.
Ten Hag's private views
Ten Hag later privately admitted he would have dropped Rashford after Belfast if he had more forwards available. Rashford was eventually sent on loan to Aston Villa by Amorim, and then to Barcelona last season, where United believed the Catalan club would trigger their £26million option to sign him. However, Barcelona signed Anthony Gordon instead.
Carrick, who played alongside Rashford and coached him under Jose Mourinho, has made his own decision about the forward. Rashford has been playing through a hip injury, which kept him out of training on Tuesday morning. Carrick believes he can get the best out of Rashford, but Ten Hag once thought the same.
