Well, it certainly looks like ominous thunder clouds are suddenly gathering over the heads of the Manchester United first squad as manager Erik ten Hag has cooly dispatched a volley of brusque emails to his new squad telling them that anyone who doesn’t put the team’s need first will be sent packing without much ado.
The former Ajax head coach has reportedly sent an unflattering email to every member of United’s first-team squad warning them in no uncertain terms that he’s prepared to boot anyone with an inflated ego out of his squad.
Reports of behind-the-scenes disharmony and dressing room rifts were the main toxic flavors last season and Ten Hag intends to unify his struggling squad with a stiff dose of the infamous Sir Alex Ferguson-style discipline from the get-go.
The Dutchman also made known to the players that they have to meet his no-nonsense high-intensity training requirements or face the chopping block as he is intent on establishing a high-pressing, possession-based style of football at the club, just as he did at Ajax.
An Old Trafford source told The Sun”: “The new gaffer sent the first-team players an email, telling them that football is a team game and no individual is more important than any other.
“His emphasis is all on the team – despite United possessing world class stars. He wants the players to train at a higher intensity so that each session is like a game.
“The players have been told that their fitness levels will be the best they have ever been and that if they stick with him and back him, they will be fine. If not, they will be out the door. They will be drilled and drilled until they get it right. And if they can’t he’ll replace them with some of the promising youngsters.”
Reports had leaked of a power tussle going on between Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire last season with the Portugal international allegedly attempting to usurp leadership duties from the club captain when both Maguire and United’s form began to dip alarmingly.
Ronaldo was also criticised by fans for failing to work hard on the pitch and accused of being detrimental to team shape, with former interim boss Ralf Rangnick attempting, and hardly succeeding, to instil a high-intensity playing style.
Hopefully this time that will all need to change now that Ten Hag has arrived.
United has had enough of duds for a long time to come, God knows.