DAVID MOYES accused Manchester United’s flops of hiding behind sacked boss Erik ten Hag.
The former Red Devils manager also slammed the players for refusing to accept responsibility for their poor form.
Sporting Lisbon chief Ruben Amorim takes over on Monday following the end of Ten Hag’s two-and-a-half-year reign last week.
David Moyes was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet when he claimed the players were willing to let Ten Hag “take the hit.
He said: “I think the players are quite happy to hide behind managers at the moment — let the managers take the hit.
“I could do with some of them coming out and saying, ‘By the way, I know I’m not quite at it at the moment. I’m not playing well enough just now’.
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“We’re not getting much of that and I actually think Manchester United have got really, really talented players.”
The Scot, who has not managed since leaving West Ham at the end of last season, feels Amorim is coming into a totally different club from when Moyes himself arrived at Old Trafford to succeed 13-time Prem title-winner Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are currently 13th in the Premier League ahead of hosting Leicester on Sunday.
And Moyes told the Stick to Football podcast: “He’s in a completely different situation.
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“I was really fortunate to take over the champions of England at the time — and probably coming into a dressing room which had great respect for Alex and what he’d done.
“At the moment, players might be looking now and saying, ‘Hey, by the way, if we don’t step up…’
“The manager might be coming from a stronger position because these players are going to have to actually step up.”
Moyes, 61, also felt United lost touch with the way they used to treat managers when he arrived.
He added: “They didn’t sack managers. When Alex wasn’t doing so well, they didn’t do it. They stood for something which was really admirable.
“A bit of class and actually that dropped away, probably, at that time.”
What Man Utd said on hiring EACH of their post-Fergie managers
David Moyes
“All the skills needed to build on United’s phenomenal legacy.”
Louis van Gaal
“One of the outstanding managers in the game today.”
Jose Mourinho
“Quite simply the best manager in the game today.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“A wealth of experience, with a desire to give young players their chance and a deep understanding of the culture of the club.”
Erik ten Hag
“One of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe.”
Ruben Amorim
“One of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
