Erik ten Hag says he’s been denied players by the club(Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hit back at Jose Mourinho over claims that the board have delivered for him at Old Trafford.
Mourinho said Ten Hag had been give more backing during his two years at the club than he received between 2016 and 2018.
The Portuguese coach had been keen to sign the likes of Gareth Bale and Harry Maguire during his time at Old Trafford, but his influence over transfer strategy weakened over his tenure.
Ten Hag was given licence to sign the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia during his first summer at the club.
He was backed again last summer, with Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund joining the club.
But Ten Hag says United have ‘missed’ two transfer windows since he joined the club, referring to their failure to back him in two January windows.
Mourinho says Ten Hag has received the type of backing that he did not (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
And the Dutchman has doubled down on his claims by hitting back at Mourinho, who he says is the only United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired to ‘get the players he wanted’.
‘Apart from Mourinho, the manager didn’t get the players they wanted, and that is what you need,” Ten Hag said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.
‘I am confident we will achieve our goals, but it is a tough competition. It is not a two-horse race anymore.’
Ten Hag faces a struggle to keep his job this summer following a dismal second season in charge at Old Trafford.
But the Dutchman says that the club’s decision to sign potential last summer in the form of players like Hojlund – rather than proven talent like Harry Kane – means supporters need patience.
‘You need outstanding players. Otherwise, you are in a process and you have to be patient,’ said Ten Hag.
‘That is where we are now. We went for players who have high potentials, and we have to develop them, as individuals and as a team. But you need patience with the process.’
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