- Man United boss Erik ten Hag fumed over speculation about first team fire sale
- The Dutchman said reports were ‘a joke’ and hit out at United transfer gossip
- Were Jude Bellingham’s Allianz antics out of order? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has fumed at media reports that the club are set to put the entire squad up for sale – with the exception of three players – and said constant transfer gossip about the team was ‘a joke’.
The Red Devils have been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks after a series of poor results, most recently a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley, to continue their dismal campaign that has seen them fall 13 points adrift of the final top four spot.
Ten Hag has found himself under immense pressure after one win in their last six league games and there has been plenty of speculation he will be replaced by new chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the summer.
There has also been ongoing rumours and reports over the future of United’s biggest underperformers – after a recent story claimed United and Ratcliffe were preparing a major overhaul of the squad at the end of the season.
That report from the Telegraph claimed just three players – Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund – have been spared from the chopping block.
Man United boss Erik ten Hag has called reports the club are set to put a majority of their players up for sale as ‘a joke’
Speculation has mounted this week that the club are willing to cash in on their entire squad – with the exception of three players
New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) is said to be making preparations for the next season
And after those rumours continued at pace after Ratcliffe and his director Sir Dave Brailsford were spotted out at a ‘working dinner’ in Manchester this week, Ten Hag fired back at reporters for circulating speculation about the future of his players.
He said the story was a ‘joke’ and questioned why United stars were constantly being linked away, sarcastically said the club ‘sell all our players every summer’.
‘It’s a joke,’ he said ahead of United’s trip to Crystal Palace on Monday. ‘As long as I’ve worked here, every summer, every window, I think 200 players are getting interest from Manchester United. We did some research. Untrue.
‘And also every summer we sell all of the players in our squad, so you (in the media) are making all of the headlines, which is untrue.
The media have been heavily critical of United this season after a disaster campaign that sees them sitting sixth in the table
‘I think be calm and also take some responsibility when you make such a headline. Think, find a good source if there is some truth in it and this is totally c***.’
Marcus Rashford was reported to be among those up for sale and the misfiring forward will again be absent when United return to Premier League action at Crystal Palace on Monday.
‘I can’t tell (when he will be back),’ Ten Hag said. ‘So, it was last week absence against Sheffield, after Coventry, so far his issue hasn’t healed.’
This is not the first time Ten Hag has gone to war with journalists.
Last month he banned three newspapers from asking questions at a United press conference after hitting out at ‘disrespectful’ journalists who had been critical of the club following their nervy penalty shootout win over Coventry in the FA Cup semi-finals.
He called ongoing stories slamming United and speculating over his future ’embarrassing’ and ‘a disgrace’.
Ten Hag previously banned three newspapers from asking questions following stern criticism
Asked if he understood the reaction to the Coventry win, the United boss said: ‘Absolutely not. You made (asked) the question, “is it embarrassing?” No, the reaction from you was embarrassing. It is the comments.
‘Top football is about results. We made it to a final and we deserved it not only by this game but also the other games. We lost control for 20 minutes, we also had bad luck, 3-2, 3-3.
‘The penalties was very good and we made it to the final, it is a huge achievement. Twice in two years is magnificent. For me as a manager, four cup finals in four years two KNVB Cups with Ajax and two FA Cups with United). The comments are a disgrace.’
Earlier on in the season, a string of high-profile journalists from Sky Sports, Manchester Evening news and ESPN were banned from Ten Hag’s media briefings after failing to contact the club before going to publication – as well as writing that several players were losing faith in the manager.
