Ex-Manchester United Manager Blames Club Hierarchy for 'Toxic Culture'

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused the club's hierarchy of fostering a "toxic culture" by granting excessive power to players. In a candid interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag, who was dismissed in October 2024, detailed his struggles with squad discipline during his two-year tenure.

Ten Hag stated that the club's leadership fueled the issue by empowering players, leading to situations where they were not held to account. He recalled instances such as Marcus Rashford being dropped for oversleeping and arriving late to a team meeting, a decision Ten Hag felt was necessary to uphold standards.

"And so, they (the club) are continuing the toxic culture; they fuel it, they give the power to the players," Ten Hag told The Athletic. "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."

The former manager also pointed to the influence of players with Real Madrid connections, specifically mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, and Casemiro, as introducing a power imbalance that did not align with the club's desired dynamic football approach.

"I can say I think that’s what the Madrid connection brought in, that players are powerful and they want to decide," he said. "In my opinion it didn’t suit the phase United was in. The leadership wanted attacking, dynamic football and these players wanted to play what fitted themselves."

Ten Hag described Casemiro, who arrived with a reputation as a midfield strategist, as appearing demotivated, though he was unsure of the reasons behind it.

The issue of player power has been a recurring theme at Manchester United since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. Ten Hag's comments echo recent sentiments from defender Lisandro Martinez, who criticized the club's hierarchy for a perceived lack of investment in the squad over the summer.

Ten Hag's most publicized conflict was with Cristiano Ronaldo, whose critical interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022 ultimately led to the Portuguese forward's departure from the club. Ten Hag suggested that for some players, football was not their highest priority, and United was not theirs.

Despite these challenges, interim manager Michael Carrick insisted that the squad is in a good place, emphasizing harmony and passion within the group. He acknowledged that misunderstandings can occur but stressed that they do not detract from the team's collective spirit and efforts.

Ten Hag's tenure was marked by several disciplinary actions, including sanctions against players like Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. The former manager maintained that he attempted to instill discipline, contrasting with what he perceived as the club's allowance of player influence.