JAAP STAM is “worried” about Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United after the club tamely dropped out of the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Manchester United legend is confused about the Dutchman’s playing style and points out two Premier League bosses who have delivered the approach he had at Ajax.
United not only fell out of the Champions League, but out of European competition altogether following the Bayern defeat.
Finishing bottom of Group A meant Ten Hag’s troops failed to even make the Europa League.
And former Red Devils defender Stam is concerned about Ten Hag, who is set to face increased pressure after the disastrous result.
Ten Hag has clashed with ex-player Cristiano Ronaldo as well as current stars Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho.
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And certain portions of the media have been banned from press conferences.
Stam, who won the Treble with United in 1999, told the Stick to Football podcast by Sky Bet: “He has got to be worried and thinking about what’s going to happen now.
“You can ban players, but it’s also about man-management of course and how to work with and handle players.
“There was the Cristiano Ronaldo thing, the Jadon Sancho thing, Raphael Varane probably – I don’t know if something’s happened over there.
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“There’s the thing with the press now and banning journalists from press conferences. It doesn’t work in your favour as a manager.
“You need to have peace and quiet… you don’t want to pay too much attention to other things like players and the press.
“You need to fully focus, and I don’t think you want to talk about players or what players think about you as a manager.
“I worry a little bit for him and that’s why it would be good if he gets the results.”
Ten Hag had a successful first term at Old Trafford finishing third in the league and winning the EFL Cup.
But this season and £400million later the Dutchman’s side has regressed.
Compared to his success at Ajax where he won three Eredivisie titles, Stam cannot understand why the Man Utd boss has not delivered the same success at Old Trafford.
The ex-Ajax star even suggested how Spurs’ Ange Postecoglou and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi have been able to reflect the free-flowing style Ten Hag once had.
He added: “I think he’s a good coach and I’m wondering this myself and we even asked him for ViaPlay – when are we going to see this style of play we saw at Ajax?
“He made a certain comment and he mentioned that he could never play the way he played at Ajax over here.
“I’m surprised because I’ve seen Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham with Ange Postecoglou and how they’re playing.”
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But things could get worse for the Red Devils before they get better.
Although they sit sixth in the Premier League table, Sunday sees a daunting visit to in-form Liverpool, who thrashed them 7-0 in the same fixture last term.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
