Erik ten Hag’s biggest flaw that may have lost him the dressing room revealed

Ten Hag is under mounting pressure (Picture: Getty)

Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy believes Erik ten Hag may have lost his players because of a lack of ‘passion’ and ‘fire’.

Ten Hag brought McCarthy to Old Trafford two years ago as part of his coaching staff with the South African leaving in the summer in order to pursue a management job elsewhere.

United currently find themselves in another desperate malaise following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham with Ten Hag fighting to save his job.

With his role under greater scrutiny than ever, McCarthy has lifted the lid on how the Dutchman has been perceived by the United squad, believing they want to believe their head coach is ‘fighting alongside them’.

‘Sometimes I didn’t see in him that passion I speak of,’ McCarthy told Portuguese outlet ZeroZero. ‘He has a different personality, a different profile.

‘I think that was one of the difficulties that the team and the players encountered.’

He continued: ‘In modern football, I believe that players want to see a bit more passion in their coach. They need to feel that the coach is with them and willing to fight alongside them.

McCarthy left United in the summer (Picture: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

‘Tactically, I feel that Erik is at the top. He lacks a bit of that fire, that passion. That’s where we differ, him and I. I want to be at his level in terms of tactical mastery.

‘I think my greatest strength is the empathy I create with the players and that allows them to play at a level that combines passion, determination and desire. That’s how you win games, especially the most demanding ones.

‘That’s the difference, that fire I feel inside me, that hunger I have. Erik is more conservative. He gives all the information to the players and then expects them to comply on the pitch.’

With United’s season already in freefall, Ten Hag effectively has two games to save his job.

United take on Porto in the Europa League clash on Thursday night before a daunting trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.

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