Ten Hag Blasts Man United Over Toxic Culture

Ten Hag Accuses Man United of Toxic Culture and Player Power

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has reignited controversy surrounding his time at Old Trafford, accusing the club’s leadership of allowing a “toxic culture” to continue by giving players too much power.

In a revealing interview with The Athletic, the Dutchman criticised the club’s handling of disciplinary matters involving players including Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Ten Hag argued that his attempts to maintain standards were not consistently supported by the hierarchy.

“They are continuing the toxic culture; they fuel it, they give the power to the players,” Ten Hag said.

The former United boss also praised Rashford’s ability while suggesting that attitude and standards were important factors in getting the best out of the England international.

“Rashford is an amazing player, if his mindset is right,” he explained. “I always showed my trust in him, played him. But when you show these standards, sometimes you have to make corrections.”

Ten Hag says Manchester United broke its promises

Beyond the dressing-room issues, Ten Hag claimed the club’s leadership failed to deliver on commitments made during discussions about his future and the direction of the team.

“They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we would be aligned,” he said. “We spoke about the issues. But the promises, they didn’t keep.”

Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024, only months after leading United to FA Cup success against Manchester City. He had also won the League Cup during his time at the club, but inconsistent performances and a difficult start to the 2024–25 campaign ultimately brought his tenure to an end.

The manager’s latest comments suggest that disagreements behind the scenes extended beyond results on the pitch. He felt that expectations placed on him to enforce discipline were not matched by consistent support from senior decision-makers.

Rashford and Sancho at the centre of the debate

Sancho’s dispute with Ten Hag became public in September 2023 after the winger challenged the manager’s explanation for his omission from a matchday squad. Sancho subsequently trained away from the first team before returning to Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2024.

Rashford also faced disciplinary scrutiny during Ten Hag’s tenure, including after missing a training session following a birthday night out in January 2024. Ten Hag’s latest remarks frame such situations as part of a wider question about how Manchester United handled player accountability.

However, Ten Hag’s interpretation represents his side of the story. The wider circumstances involved decisions by club officials, coaching staff and players, and his comments do not independently establish that the club’s leadership deliberately undermined him.

Questions remain over United’s leadership

Ten Hag’s criticism adds to the long-running debate over Manchester United’s organisational structure since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Multiple managers have struggled to establish sustained success, prompting repeated questions about recruitment, executive decision-making and the balance of authority between coaches and players.

For Ten Hag, the central issue was whether a manager could enforce standards without unified support from above. His account suggests he believed that the promises made to him were not fulfilled when difficult decisions had to be taken.

His comments are likely to renew discussion among supporters about responsibility for United’s struggles: whether the main problems lay with individual managers, the players, the leadership or a combination of all three.

Source: The Athletic interview with Erik ten Hag, reported by Sky Sports and other outlets.