According to reports, some Manchester United players have ‘concerns’ about what Erik ten Hag has been ‘demanding’ of them this season.
Ten Hag is near the end of his second season as Man Utd‘s head coach. Under the Dutchman, the Red Devils enjoyed a successful campaign in 2022/23 as they won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League.

This season has been far more difficult for Ten Hag and Man Utd, though. They look likely to miss out on the top four after earlier this season, they exited the Champions League and Carabao Cup prematurely.
Man Utd remain in the FA Cup but they have drawn Liverpool in the next round so they are at risk of ending this season without a trophy.
Several Premier League sides have been seriously hampered by injuries this season but Man Utd have arguably been the worst impacted.
Ten Hag has only been able to name his best XI on a couple of occasions this season. He was without Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Anthony Martial, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus Hojlund for their 3-1 loss to Man City in the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.
Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans were forced off due to injury scares against City. Speaking post-match, Ten Hag said: “I had to take them both off. They fought to be part of this game but after 60 or 70 minutes we had to take them off and sub them.
Related video: Ten Hag claims Utd unlucky in 3-1 derby defeat at City (English Football Channel)

“We’re working on players returning and I think players will return in the coming weeks, especially after the international break. Hopefully Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford are not too bad, that they recover and we can use them in the next game against Everton.”
READ MORE: Mediawatch… Marcus Rashford ‘silenced his critics’ despite Man United defeat in ‘end-to-end’ derby clash
Now a report from Manchester Evening News claims ‘a minority of United players are concerned about the running demands from manager Erik ten Hag’.
They added. ‘It is understood some players believe the intensity is too taxing after United’s 62-game campaign last season and the workload has contributed to the club’s injury toll.’
Ten Hag’s training methods have been a consistent talking point since his arrival as head coach ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Man Utd started last season with losses to Brighton and Brentford. Thomas Frank’s side ran 13.8km more than United’s players during their win so as a punishment, Ten Hag made his squad run that distance on their scheduled day off and he ‘joined’ in.  
The report from The Athletic claimed Ten Hag ‘took part in the running session to show his togetherness with his players’ and his Man Utd players ‘appeared to react positively to his unorthodox method’.
READ MORE: Man Utd being predictably rotten at Man City suits Sky Sports

Scholes slams Man Utd star for ‘criminal’ mistake after ‘awful’ Red Devils lose to Man City

Man Utd legend Paul Scholes has hit out at Casemiro for his role in Man City’s second goal after the Red Devils lost the Manchester derby 3-1 on Sunday.
The Red Devils went ahead against the run of play on eight minutes as Marcus Rashford rifled in an incredible effort from outside the box before Erik ten Hag’s men defended their lead until half-time.

But Phil Foden equalised 11 minutes after the break with an equally brilliant effort before the England international added another on 80 minutes before Erling Haaland sealed the points in stoppage time.
It was a dominant performance from Man City with Man Utd limited to just three shots at goal as the home side took the game to their arch-rivals.
Casemiro put in a solid display for the majority of the match against the Citizens but Scholes criticised the Brazil international – who scored the only goal of the game in their FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest in midweek – for his mistake leading to City’s second goal.
“Look at Casemiro during that one-two,” Scholes told Premier League Productions.
READ MORE: Man Utd like ‘a fish on a bike’ as Liverpool’s Forest fallout continues…
“In a defensive position, the holding midfield role, that is criminal. The gap shouldn’t be that far and Casemiro, with the experience he has got, should not be getting done with a one-two there.”
Related video: Ten Hag claims Utd unlucky in 3-1 derby defeat at City (English Football Channel)

Scholes thought that the cautious approach from Man Utd worked initially but insisted Erik ten Hag’s side made it look “awful” when they went behind.
“Once United went behind they didn’t really have the answers, they don’t have the quality of Manchester City, they can’t keep a spell of possession for three or four minutes,” Scholes added.
“They don’t have that quality and they were a bit recognisable at the end.
“You are more hoping it’s not 4-1 or 5-1 rather than getting it back to 3-2. A draw to play that way looks acceptable but as soon as they go ahead, it looks awful.
“You’re looking at United and they are behind, you have got to try put pressure on City, try get Rashford, [Alejandro] Garnacho down the side but they could never really get that spell of possession.
“The midfield did okay defensively for a while but when you play against a team like City you don’t get a kick of the ball. It’s difficult to stamp your authority on a game.”
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford from Man Utd hero back to (near) zero as quality questioned over ‘commitment’

Neville hits out at ‘soft’ Man Utd star and team-mate who ‘didn’t do enough’ to stop Man City

Gary Neville hit out at a couple of Manchester United players over their involvement in Phil Foden’s equaliser for Manchester City on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag’s side faced the tough task of facing Man City at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon but Marcus Rashford‘s stunning long-range strike fired them into a shock early lead.

This did not deter Pep Guardiola’s team too much, though. The hosts dominated the rest of the game and a brace from Phil Foden turned the derby around before Erling Haaland netted their third late on.
In the build-up to Foden’s equaliser for City, Rashford was leading a Man Utd attack but he went to the ground following minimal contact from fellow England international Kyle Walker.
After Foden found the net and Rashford failed to track back, the Man Utd forward complained to referee Andy Madley but it was ruled that the official was right to allow the goal.
When asked about the incident after the game, Ten Hag said: “Let’s say this, it is very debatable. I think there was contact and a defining moment in the game.
“There was also (just before it became) 2-1, a reckless action of the goalkeeper of City (Ederson), then in the counter-attack they scored, 2-1.
Related video: Pep Guardiola lauds Phil Foden for Manchester derby win comeback (Daily Mail)
“It (Walker on Rashford) was soft, but you know when you are in a full sprint and you get a little touch, you lose the rhythm and that is why he went down.”
READ MORE: 16 Conclusions on Manchester City 3-1 Man Utd… Ten Hag sack, phenomenal Foden, rubbish Rashford
Neville thinks it was “soft” from Rashford, while defender Victor Lindelof “didn’t do enough” to stop Foden.
“It’s soft from Marcus Rashford,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“He needs to stand up. He didn’t need to go down at all, he thought the referee would fall for it but it’s minimal contact.”
Regarding fill-in left-back Lindelof, he added: “We’ve seen two special goals and that end of the pitch.
“Manchester United are asking for a foul on Rashford. Lindelof doesn’t do enough.
“He allows Foden to come inside but he doesn’t expect him to ram it into the top corner.”
READ MORE: Marcus Rashford from Man Utd hero back to (near) zero as quality questioned over ‘commitment’


Michael Owen meanwhile thinks Rashford may have been able to prevent Foden’s goal if he was not “lying on the ground for a minute”.
“I thought it was correct nothing was given,” Owen said via Optus Sport. “I don’t know why Marcus Rashford was trying to run across his man to start with, he wasn’t even in control of the ball. Surely you’ve got to control the ball first and the cut across your man.
“I felt it was called spot on. And, actually, he would have been back in this position (defending for the Foden goal) to potentially cut that ball out.
“He’s been lying on the ground for a minute or so. If he was back in, his position should be there, if he wasn’t lying on the floor prior to that. So he might have been able to prevent that goal.”

Marcus Rashford from Man Utd hero back to (near) zero as quality questioned over ‘commitment’

Marcus Rashford made a rod for his own back last week, and bizarre though it sounds after his stunning goal, his response in the Manchester derby had to be better.
With the Manchester United squad costing the club a fortune to put together, but the matchday group featuring nine academy players, ahead of kick-off we were faced with the tantalising prospect of ‘Ten Hag’s kids’ or ‘billion pound bottlejobs’ both being viable narrative arcs for the days and weeks to come on the back of the Manchester derby. Neither were likely.


It was difficult to imagine a scenario in which Ten Hag would turn to Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson, Roby Collyer or Habeeb Ogunneye to make the academy graduates an acclaim worthy story, and United ‘bottling’ a game against City would require some expectation of victory, which there plainly wasn’t.
READ MORE: 16 Conclusions on Manchester City 3-1 Man Utd: Ten Hag sack, phenomenal Foden, rubbish Rashford
But the youthfulness of the bench, along with Kambwala and Forson’s involvement, is indicative of a defensive injury crisis that Ten Hag deserves at least as much credit as Jurgen Klopp for managing. United went to City without five of their first team defenders and didn’t get spanked.
A 3-1 defeat to Manchester City being one of Mancester United’s best performances of the season – certainly before Foden’s second in the 80th minute – is telling, and no doubt a painful reality for the United fans, for whom the gap between the two sides may never have felt greater. But United were ahead for over half of this game and looked like claiming a battling point for the vast majority of it. Disappointment rather than shame being the overriding emotion at the end of this game is a win, of sorts.
Related video: Rashford Non-Existent Up Front! | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Man United | Fan View (Natalie) (Global Fan Network)

When Marcus Rashford – he of five Premier League goals this season, who miscontrolled and air-kicked his way through the rest of this game – is battering a 0.03 xG chance into the top corner from 25 yards, and Erling Haaland – who scored five goals last time out and has just under a goal a game in 83 appearances for Manchester City – volleys a 0.93 xG chance over the bar from two yards out, we thought the only possible condition for Manchester United victory at the Etihad had come to pass: Manchester City were having ‘one of those days’.
Phil Foden turned it on in the second half, scoring two wonderful goals, as his other, more venerated teammates stuttered in the face of United’s low block. Haaland – before being gifted a goal in injury time – did very little, while Kevin De Bruyne struggled for his creative spark.
And Foden’s display was at odds with that of his compatriot, whom he may well be vying with for a place in the starting lineup for England. At this rate it will be an easy choice for Gareth Southgate.
Foden Man City
© Provided by Football365
Phil Foden turned the Manchester derby on its head.
Rashford briefly did his talking on the pitch after he piled the pressure on himself with his interview in the Players’ Tribune last week, striking the ball absurdly sweetly on the run to open the scoring, but from that point on it was more of what we’ve seen all too frequently this season. His response having hit out at his critics had to better than what he showed, with that superb goal set to grant him leeway he doesn’t deserve.

READ MORE: Rashford’s Manchester United actions must speak far louder than his thousands of empty words
Two very good counter-attacking opportunities broke down as a result of poor touches from Rashford, who shot at nothing when presented with one very good opportunity, had the fewest touches of anyone on the pitch with 23, none of which were in the opposition box, the fewest passes (12), completed no dribbles, was the only starting outfield player for United not to make a tackle, and was culpable for the City equaliser, having lost out to Kyle Walker, who continually got the better of him in foot races and wrestles.
Ten Hag went mad on the touchline as Rashford called for a foul from the deck, but Walker was just faster, stronger and smarter, as he proved to be throughout a game which could have been won by Rashford through his stunning strike, but wasn’t, and was arguably lost through his lack of quality and strength when other half chances arose.
This could have been the turning point for Rashford, but instead the pressure remains on a guy who’s put the spotlight on himself with claims we should never doubt his commitment to the club. And we’re not. Bizarre though it is after that goal, we’re doubting his quality.

Arsenal to move for Sporting star and rival Man Utd for ex-Real Madrid defender

Arsenal are intent on moving for Viktor Gyokeres this summer despite Sporting’s reluctance to sell. The Gunners are also planning to complicate Manchester United’s pursuit of a Girona defender…
 
ARSENAL TO RIVAL PSG FOR SWEDEN STRIKER
‘Viktor Gyokeres priority for Arsenal‘ is the simple headline on a short story around the Gunners’ intent to move for the Sporting Lisbon striker this summer.

Gyokeres has an incredible record of 31 goals and 11 assists in 34 games since moving to Sporting from Coventry last summer. That has sparked interest from across Europe, with Arsenal jostling for position at the front of the queue, according to Todofichajes.
Two problems: firstly, Sporting have no intention of letting the Sweden striker leave, certainly for no less than the 100million euros stipulated in his contract. If Gyokeres does become available, PSG are also keen to take the 25-year-old as they look to replace Kylian Mbappe.
Gyokeres is actually the top scorer in 2024 ahead of Mbappe, Haaland and others.
 
GUNNERS HAVE ADVANTAGE OF MAN UTD FOR GIRONA DEFENDER
Arsenal are also said to be sniffing around Girona defender Miguel Gutierrez.
Manchester United were linked with the left-back over the weekend, reigniting their interest that first began when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Red Devils and Gutierrez was coming through the ranks at Real Madrid.
Related video: Arteta on Arsenal's improved defensive performances ahead of Sheffield Utd trip (Dailymotion)

Real have the option to re-sign the 23-year-old for just £7million but since they seem to have a deal agreed with Alphonso Davies, Girona look set to bank in the region of £30million for Gutierrez.
Fichajes says Arsenal are rivalling United, with the Gunners having the advantage of being able to offer Champions League football.
 
CITY A THREAT TO MILAN AS CAMARDA STALLS ON DEAL
Francesco Camarda caught everyone’s attention earlier this season when he became the youngest player to represent AC Milan aged just 15. The midfielder turns 16 next week at which time he can sign his first professional contract. But, apparently, Camarda has no intention of committing to Milan. At least not yet.
Gazzetta dello Sport says the teenager’s representatives have agreed in principle a three-year deal with Milan but there is still work to do on a formal agreement. The deal could work in Milan’s favour since that contract could extend to 2027 if Camarda signs in the summer.


But the Rossoneri are vulnerable for as long as Camarda’s deal remains unsigned. Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund are monitoring the situation, with the Premier League champions a potential problem for Milan owing to the fact Palermo are part of the City Group.
Read next: 16 Conclusions on Manchester City 3-1 Man Utd: Ten Hag sack, phenomenal Foden, rubbish Rashford

Roy Keane’s Vincent Kompany slam rings true as ‘dreadful’ Burnley condemned by Bournemouth

Burnley dominated but can’t score and can’t defend. Roy Keane took aim at Vincent Kompany before the game, and his criticism rang true in defeat to Bournemouth.
Dara O’Shea displayed his brainlessness after just 30 seconds. Apparently unaware of the multiball system that’s been in effect since the start of last season, he raced his own defensive header to the touchline so that he could boot the ball into the stands, with his momentum taking him to the advertising hoardings. Dominic Solanke picked up a ball from a cone and O’Shea was shown a yellow card for heading it from the Bournemouth striker’s hands to prevent a quick throw-in.

It wasn’t a hugely significant moment in the grand scheme of things, but typifies Kompany’s Burnley, who are easy on the eye but make error after error through a mixture of absent-mindedness and overconfidence in their own ability.
Roy Keane didn’t hold back in his pre-match assessment of their season so far, which had seen them pick up 13 points, the fewest number after 26 games and now inevitably 27 in the club’s history, which surely condemns them to the Championship next season.

“Do you know what, they’ve been dreadful. They’ve been dreadful. We talk about teams having a style of play in the Championship and trying to compare it to the Premiership, it’s chalk and cheese. It’s impossible. They look weak physically. The goals they’re giving away, it’s schoolboy stuff. They gave away a goal against Arsenal last week. You wouldn’t see it on a Sunday morning, it’s dreadful. I admire managers who have a philosophy and a style of play, but you’ve got to adapt. They’ve been nowhere near good enough, it’s embarrassing the way things have been going for them.”

Sunday league centre-halves would have been embarrassed by O’Shea’s efforts to prevent Bournemouth’s opener. It was an excellent finish from Justin Kluivert, who cut inside and smashed the ball past James Trafford. O’Shea was entirely diddled by Kluivert’s dummy, which wasn’t ideal, but it was the ease with which he was beaten to a simple ball over the top which was the most embarrassing aspect of his defending, and left Keane stewing in the studio at the break, perplexed – as he was before kick-off – that a team managed by one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history look like conceding every time the opposition attack.

“Kompany, an outstanding centre-half, he must know defensively his team are all over the place, they’ve got to do better. You’ve got to give yourself a chance of winning football matches.”

They really should have won this football match. They were somehow 1-0 down at the end of a first half in which they had 13 shots, their second highest tally of shots in any half of Premier League football ever, and 75 per cent possession, their most in a half ever.
Wilson Odobert and Vitinho both spurned very good chances, Neto denied Jacob Bruun Larsen with one of the saves of the season from a free-kick, and Burnley were by the far the better team between both boxes. “But that’s football!” Keane said with exasperation, mystified by the praise for pretty build-up play given their toothlessness in the crunch moments.
Related video: Vincent Kompany focusses on positive elements in Bournemouth defeat (Dailymotion)

“I think we’ve gone too easy on some of the teams there at the bottom,” he added.
It’s been a pretty pathetic attempt to rise to the Premier League standard by Burnley, who broke the record for the earliest Championship promotion last season and duped the majority of us into thinking they would ruffle some elite feathers this term.
Were it not for an apparent acceptance of relegation from the owners, who are evidently convinced their current boss will be the man to get them back up again, Kompany would be long gone. Because even with the upcoming points deductions for two of their relegation rivals, Burnley aren’t staring down the barrel, they’re a chalk outline in the Premier League basement. Cause of death?

“If you can’t defend properly you’re in trouble, if you’re not scoring enough goals you’re going to head back to the Championship.”

Mystery solved.
MAILBOX: ‘Parasitic scum bag’ Boehly ‘kills’ Chelsea; Ferguson-esque Ten Hag ’causes’ Man Utd problem