Fred Criticizes Ex-Manchester United Manager Erik ten Hag
Former midfielder Fred described Erik ten Hag as a "piece of s***" regarding his man-management style, despite acknowledging his tactical acumen.
Former Manchester United midfielder Fred has sharply criticized his former manager Erik ten Hag, characterizing him as a "piece of s***" in his dealings with players.
Fred, who now plays for Atletico Mineiro, spent the 2022-23 season under Ten Hag after the Dutch manager took charge at Old Trafford. While Fred conceded that Ten Hag was "tactically, one of the best I've ever worked with," his man-management approach was severely lacking.
"With the group, he was a piece of s***," Fred told the Charla podcast. "He argued with everyone. He argued with me, with Cristiano, with Casemiro, with Rashford."
According to Fred, Ten Hag's preference extended to his Dutch players, with others often excluded from playing time. "He wouldn't put me in to play, sometimes it got stressful," Fred stated, adding, "He wanted the team to run, but Cristiano (was already) older. He took Cristiano out (of the starting lineup), and then there was a falling out."
This strained relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly contributed to the star forward's desire to leave the club. Ronaldo eventually signed with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Fred remained at Manchester United for the 2022-23 season, winning the Carabao Cup with Ten Hag before moving to Fenerbahce. Ten Hag continued for a second season at United, securing the FA Cup in 2024. Despite this victory, a challenging start to the subsequent season led to his dismissal in late October 2026. His successor, Ruben Amorim, was unable to improve the team's performance over the following year, leading to the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager. The team's struggles have persisted, with Manchester United currently 12th in the league standings heading into the international break.