In a recent development, former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has criticized current manager Erik ten Hag for his perceived lack of passion. This comes amidst increasing pressure on the Dutchman following a disappointing start to the 2024/25 campaign.
Erik ten Hag, who took over as Manchester United's manager, has been under scrutiny due to his team's poor performance in the early stages of this season. The latest blow was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, which has sparked debates about whether he is indeed the right person to steer United forward.
A question of passion?
Benni McCarthy, who served as first-team coach before leaving Old Trafford in June, offered an analysis on Ten Hag's character and leadership style. According to him, it is Ten Hag’s lack of desire and passion that hinders him from achieving results with Manchester United.
Benni McCarthy, Former Manchester United coach, said:
"I didn't see in him that passion I speak of, He has a different personality, a different profile. I think that was one of the difficulties that the team and the players encountered.
"I want to be a reflection of my players. I want them to have the same mentality, the same ambition, the same attitude and the same culture that I grew up in. For me, training is like being in an official match. When I was a footballer, I hated losing when I was training. That was and still is my personality. I have become more and more competitive and even more so since I became a coach. I think it is healthy for my teams."
McCarthy believes that managing a team like Manchester United requires more than just tactical knowledge; it demands an intense level of passion - something he feels Ten Hag lacks.
A shining star amidst uncertainty
Despite his criticism towards Ten Hag, McCarthy didn't miss out on praising one player who continues to shine despite these challenging times - Bruno Fernandes. He lauded Fernandes' performances and claimed that the captain belongs alongside world-class players.
Benni McCarthy added:
"Bruno is part of the world's elite and has the ability to play for Real Madrid. That's how special he is. He loves his daily work and has that passion I was talking about. Bruno lives by that plan day after day, with passion and hard training. Diogo [Dalot] is the same. If some of the Manchester United players had what Bruno and Diogo have, it would have been easier to achieve good results. They both trained with incredible concentration, giving everything they had. Some of the others didn't do the same.
"This ended up limiting the United team's progress, because some players weren't training to the best of their ability. Even in games, the data showed us that some players were at their peak performance and others a little below."
As pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag following a series of disappointing results for Manchester United in this season’s campaign so far, former coach Benni McCarthy suggests that what might be missing is not tactics or skill but rather 'passion'. While time will tell if there are changes ahead for Man Utd under Ten Hags’ leadership or otherwise; one thing remains certain – Bruno Fernandes continues to impress both fans and critics alike with his stellar performances.
