- Erik ten Hag has been criticised by the worst manager in Premier League history
- Ten Hag’s future is uncertain following Man United’s defeat by Tottenham
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As pressure grows on Man United boss Erik ten Hag, he’s now been criticised by a manager who was previously dubbed ‘the worst in Premier League history’.
Following United’s 3-0 defeat at home by Tottenham, Ten Hag has received considerable criticism from the likes of club legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand.
There remains much uncertainty over the Dutchman’s future at Old Trafford, with United still producing inconsistent displays two years into his tenure.
Now, one of Ten Hag’s compatriots has taken the time to critique the Red Devils boss and insists he has lead the Premier League giants into a ‘really bad state’.
Former Ajax star Frank de Boer – who managed Crystal Palace in 2017 and lost all four of his league games in charge before being sacked – described United as a team that are ‘wobbling everywhere.’
Erik ten Hag has been criticised by the ‘worst manager in the history of the Premier League’
United were abject as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday
According to The Mirror, De Boer said: ‘Having watched them and having now analysed Manchester United, I can only say that they are in a bad state.
‘United look like a team that are wobbling everywhere. They have been totally outclassed (by Tottenham) – and I am talking about being outclassed tactically, in quality, in effort and energy. Where weren’t they outclassed?
‘I was looking at the players – and one after the other they made such stupid mistakes. So many players are making poor passes. I was trying to count the amount of big things that went wrong in the first 45 minutes and it was impossible to count those big mistakes on the fingers of two hands.
‘I am stunned by what I saw in Manchester. It became even more clear how bad United are when I looked at the way Tottenham played from the back, how they built things up, always finding a free player, showing guts on the ball and having the right power in a fight for the ball. I found it remarkable how an opponent of United’s could play like that.’
The criticism will certainly sting Ten Hag, given it’s come from a manager who Jose Mourinho once described as ‘the worst manager in the history of the Premier League’.
De Boer also criticised United’s Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, who struggled to make an impact against Tottenham.
He said: ‘Look at Joshua Zirkzee. He was having a nightmare. He was absolutely shocking. How many times does he make the wrong choices on the pitch? Okay, he did have one shot at goal and the keeper saved it. But all in all he was champion in losing the ball.
Frank De Boer, who had a woeful spell at Crystal Palace, was heavily critical of ten Hag
De Boer also had some harsh words for Joshua Zirkzee after the striker struggled against Spurs
‘During the warm-up before the game, I was watching him and he was shooting on goal – but he was blasting it anywhere but on target!
‘Honestly, he did not hit the target once in the warm-up. That was terrible. When you are a good striker, you don’t have to blast every ball, you have to make sure your shots are in the corner. During the game Marcus Rashford tried to shoot like that. Zirkzee never did.’
Zirkzee, who joined United from Bologna in the summer, scored a late winner against Fulham in the opening game of the Premier League season but hasn’t found the net in the top flight since then.
United were abject against Tottenham and will be looking to respond quickly when they face Porto away in the Europa League on Thursday.
