Surprisingly, despite Erik ten Hag leading Manchester United through yet another dreadful season, David Beckham has spoken out in favor of his boss.
Man Utd finished third in the Premier League, advanced to the FA Cup final, and won the League Cup in Ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford. This season, the Red Devils have only managed to make it to the FA Cup final once more.
Ten Hag’s team has already been eliminated from both the Champions League and the League Cup, and as a result of some poor performances, they are currently ranked eighth in the Premier League standings.
Even Chelsea, a team that has seemed to be plagued by drama and controversy all season, is below Man Utd.
The players at Manchester United are beginning to accept that Ten Hag will most likely be replaced in the summer, with both Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel being candidates. Man Utd has also been urged to think about a highly anticipated reunion with Jose Mourinho, even though it would come as a huge surprise.
The former Manchester United and England player Beckham has been questioned about the cause of his former club’s issues amidst all the managerial rumors.
DON’T MISS: Ten Hag’s plans to replace Casemiro, lessen the financial burden, and more from Dan Ashworth’s Man Utd inbox
But unlike many Man Utd pundits who have been blaming Ten Hag, the 49-year-old legend believes that the players aren’t motivated enough.
According to Beckham (via talkSPORT), “Well, you’d hope that the manager doesn’t have to do much.”
Latest on Manchester United: Beckham says that players “should be motivated”
“I believe that being motivated is the main goal of being a Manchester United player, especially during these crucial games.”
“That should be sufficient motivation when you’re a professional football player, doing what you love, playing for the team you love, and participating in any game—be it an FA Cup final against your rivals or a regular season matchup.
At the end of the day, I believe that Beckham’s former Manchester United team approached every game—whether it was a youth cup match, a friendly, the off-season, or the European Cup final—with the same mindset and the same drive. If it’s not, then you’re in the wrong team and you’re playing the wrong sport.
“Going into an FA Cup final against Manchester City with enough motivation that a manager shouldn’t have to say much is what you’d hope for any Manchester United team and player.”
“We all know that Erik is a very qualified manager, a good manager, and he has the right motives,” Beckham went on.
“However, I believe that having Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Harrison, Jim Ryan, Nobby Stiles, and all of these amazing managers and motivators during our time was a blessing.”
Ten Hag’s job may be saved, according to reports, because firing him would have cost over £10 million. Ten Hag is 54 years old. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of Old Trafford, must determine whether Ten Hag is leading Man Utd in the right way and whether the £10 million sack payment was worthwhile in order to preserve the team’s long-term viability.
