Jamie Carragher has dismissed Erik ten Hag’s explanation for benching Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez in Manchester United’s match against Aston Villa.
The Sky Sports commentator rejected Ten Hag’s claim of rotation, asserting the players were dropped.
Ten Hag had stated pre-match: “It’s just rotation. We’ve so much games to cover, so we have to bring them all in.”
However, Carragher retorted: “You don’t rotate centre-backs. They’ve been dropped.”
The decision to bench the defenders, who struggled in the midweek draw with FC Porto, has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also appeared to question Ten Hag’s explanation.
Ferdinand posted cryptically on his X account before kick-off, simply stating: “Rotation.”
The controversy comes amid growing pressure on Ten Hag due to United’s poor start to the season.
Prior to Sunday’s match, the Red Devils had won just three of their opening nine matches in all competitions.
This run of form has intensified scrutiny on the Dutch manager.
Speculation has mounted that a poor result against Aston Villa could potentially bring Ten Hag’s two-year tenure to an end.
These rumours gained traction following news that Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe would be in attendance at Villa Park.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United co-owner, has refused to publicly back Ten Hag when questioned by BBC Sport.
Ratcliffe stated: “I don’t want to answer that question…I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call.”
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He emphasised that decisions regarding the team’s management lie with the newly appointed leadership.
Ratcliffe noted: “They’ve only been there…you can count it in weeks almost – they’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.”
The Ineos chief highlighted that CEO Omar Berrada and Sporting Director Dan Ashworth only arrived in July.
Ratcliffe concluded by outlining Manchester United’s clear objective.
United could not get the win over Aston Villa on Sunday
PA
“We want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear,” he stated.
This comment underscores the significant challenges currently facing the club.
It also highlights the pressure on Ten Hag and the entire organisation to improve performance.
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Erik ten Hag has come under fire recently
PA
The co-owner’s remarks suggest a long-term vision for United’s revival. However, they also imply that immediate changes may be necessary to achieve this goal.
As United continue to struggle, the coming weeks could prove crucial for Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford.