Manchester United coach makes admission on club’s standards

Erik ten Hag has struggled to raise standards at Manchester United this season (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United coach Steve McClaren admits standards have not been high enough at the club at times over the last two seasons, but feels things will improve under the new INEOS co-ownership.

McClaren previously worked as a coach at Old Trafford from 1999-2001 under Alex Ferguson and returned with Erik ten Hag in 2022.

Last season went pretty well as the Red Devils won the League Cup and returned to the Champions League, but this campaign has been pretty disastrous.

Ten Hag’s side sit eighth in the Premier League after losing 4-0 at Crystal Palace last time out and their chances of a top four finish are already over.

McClaren feels it is just a slump which the club will recover from, and does claim that there have been good points since his return, but admits that standards at times have not been what they should be for Manchester United.

‘Arsenal are back after being down and Man United will do the same,’ McClaren told the BBC.

‘We have had many storms. I see tremendous plusses from INEOS coming in and what they are trying to do. It is identifying the standards and getting back to them.

Steve McClaren returned to Manchester United in 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘At certain times since I have come back over the last two years, we have had those standards. We have also had standards that have not been Manchester United.’

McClaren feels that the INEOS team will bring success with them, impressed by what he has heard from the new hierarchy at Old Trafford.

‘Speaking to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, speaking to Sir Dave Brailsford, they are getting the best people in. They want this to succeed,’ he said.

‘They have done that in their other sports and businesses. I am positive they will do it again with Manchester United.’

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