Former Manchester United midfielder Fred has questioned Erik ten Hag’s management of players at Old Trafford, alleging that the Dutch coach frequently clashed with members of the squad during his time in charge.

Fred, who played under Ten Hag during the 2022–23 season, said the manager had disagreements with several prominent United players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

The Brazilian made the comments during an appearance on the Charla podcast, where he offered a mixed assessment of Ten Hag’s time at Manchester United.

Key Takeaways

• Fred has criticised Erik ten Hag’s relationship with Manchester United players.
• The former midfielder claimed Ten Hag regularly argued with members of the squad.
• Fred also alleged that Ten Hag favoured Dutch players during his time at Old Trafford.
• Despite his criticism, Fred described Ten Hag as one of the best tactically among the coaches he had worked with.
• Fred also discussed Ten Hag’s decision to reduce Cristiano Ronaldo’s role at Manchester United.

Fred Questions Ten Hag’s Relationship With Manchester United Players

Fred’s strongest criticism centred on what he described as repeated disagreements between Ten Hag and players inside the Manchester United dressing room.

According to the former midfielder, tensions were not limited to his own experience. He claimed the manager also had clashes with several established figures at the club.

“He argued with everyone. He argued with me, with Cristiano, with Casemiro, with Rashford.”

Fred added that his own situation became difficult when Ten Hag stopped selecting him regularly.

“He wouldn’t put me in to play, sometimes it got stressful.”

The comments represent Fred’s personal assessment of his experience working with Ten Hag and should be viewed in that context.

Former United Midfielder Explains His Own Experience

Fred spent the 2022–23 season at Manchester United under Ten Hag before eventually leaving the club for Fenerbahçe.

His comments therefore come from his own experience of working within the squad during the Dutchman’s first season at Old Trafford.

Rather than limiting his criticism to selection decisions, however, Fred suggested that disagreements between Ten Hag and players were a wider feature of the manager’s relationship with the squad.

His remarks included references to Ronaldo, Casemiro and Rashford, although the supplied comments do not establish the circumstances surrounding each of the disagreements he mentioned.

Fred Makes Claim About Ten Hag’s Dutch Players

Fred also questioned the manager’s selection preferences, claiming that Ten Hag gave particular favour to players from the Netherlands.

“Only his Dutch players played,” he said.

He went further by describing Ten Hag as a “clique-ridden coach.”

The claim was part of Fred’s broader criticism of Ten Hag’s player management. However, it remains Fred’s characterisation of the situation and is not presented here as an independently established fact.

At the same time, Fred’s assessment was not entirely negative.

He acknowledged Ten Hag’s coaching ability and described the Dutchman as:

“one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

That contrast forms an important part of Fred’s overall assessment: he questioned Ten Hag’s relationship with players while still praising his tactical qualities.

Ronaldo’s Situation Also Featured In Fred’s Assessment

Fred also discussed Cristiano Ronaldo’s reduced role at Manchester United under Ten Hag.

According to Fred, Ten Hag wanted his team to maintain a high level of running and intensity, while Ronaldo was already at a different stage of his career.

“He wanted the team to run, but Cristiano (was already) older.”

Fred said Ten Hag subsequently removed Ronaldo from the starting lineup and that the situation contributed to a breakdown in their relationship.

“He took Cristiano out (of the starting lineup), and then there was a falling out.”

Ronaldo’s situation became one of the most prominent issues surrounding Ten Hag’s early period at Manchester United, but in Fred’s account it also formed part of the wider discussion about how the manager handled senior players.

Fred Still Praises Ten Hag’s Tactical Ability

Despite the criticism, Fred did not dismiss Ten Hag’s footballing ability.

Instead, he separated the manager’s tactical qualities from his assessment of his relationships with players.

That distinction is significant because Fred’s comments were not simply a rejection of Ten Hag as a coach. His strongest reservations concerned the way he believed the manager interacted with members of the squad.

His description of Ten Hag as one of the best tactically among the coaches he had worked with provides a more mixed assessment of the former United manager.

Fred’s Manchester United Connection

Fred joined Manchester United before Ten Hag’s arrival and remained at the club during the manager’s first season in charge.

The midfielder later left Old Trafford for Fenerbahçe before returning to South America with Atlético Mineiro.

His experience under Ten Hag gives context to the comments, particularly his references to selection decisions and relationships within the Manchester United squad.

Ten Hag took charge of Manchester United in 2022 before leaving the club in October 2024 following a difficult spell in charge.

What Fred’s Comments Mean

Fred’s remarks add another former Manchester United player’s perspective to discussions about Ten Hag’s management style.

However, the comments are best understood as Fred’s account of his experience, rather than as proof that every disagreement he described occurred in the precise manner suggested.

His assessment is also notably mixed.

While he criticised Ten Hag’s relationships with players and alleged preferential treatment of Dutch players, Fred simultaneously praised the manager’s tactical ability.

That combination makes his comments more nuanced than a straightforward criticism of Ten Hag’s coaching credentials.

FAQs About Fred’s Comments On Erik Ten Hag

What did Fred say about Erik ten Hag?

Fred claimed that Ten Hag frequently argued with Manchester United players, including himself, Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

Did Fred play under Erik ten Hag?

Yes. Fred played under Ten Hag during the 2022–23 season at Manchester United.

What did Fred say about Ten Hag’s treatment of Dutch players?

Fred alleged that Ten Hag favoured Dutch players, saying, “Only his Dutch players played.”

What did Fred say about Cristiano Ronaldo?

Fred said Ten Hag wanted the team to maintain a high level of running and eventually removed Ronaldo from the starting lineup, which Fred said contributed to a falling-out between the manager and the Portuguese forward.

Did Fred only criticise Ten Hag?

No. Fred also praised Ten Hag’s tactical ability, describing him as one of the best tactically among the coaches he had worked with.

When did Erik ten Hag leave Manchester United?

Ten Hag left Manchester United in October 2024, after taking charge of the club in 2022.

Fred’s Assessment Presents A Mixed Picture Of Ten Hag

Fred’s comments provide a critical account of his experience under Erik ten Hag, particularly regarding the manager’s relationships with players and his approach to squad selection.

Yet the former Manchester United midfielder also acknowledged Ten Hag’s tactical qualities.

The result is a mixed assessment: Fred questioned how Ten Hag managed relationships inside the dressing room while continuing to regard him highly as a tactician.

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