Crouch fears for Ten Hag over ‘backstabbing’ Man Utd players

Former England international Peter Crouch has wished Erik ten Hag “good luck” after revealing his fears for the short-term future of Man Utd.

The Red Devils confirmed last week that the Dutchman would become their new manager on a deal until the summer of 2025, with the option of a further year.

Ten Hag will take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick – who will move into a consultancy role – and reports have claimed that the German will give his successor a ‘dossier of shame’ that includes a detailed review of each first-team player.

Premier League winners and losers

Speaking from experience, Crouch insists that it “very rarely ends well” when you have dressing rooms such as the one currently at Man Utd with the former Liverpool striker doubting anyone’s ability to turn it around quickly.

Crouch wrote in the Daily Mail: “I have been in dressing rooms like the one at Manchester United and it very rarely ends well. You have egos becoming stronger and United feels a bit toxic.

“Attitudes and factions behind the scenes see teams spiral and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what has happened at Old Trafford.

“The body language, the arm throwing, the storming off the pitch and anger at team-mates, you can see it a mile off. From my own experience in troublesome dressing rooms, I saw little groups of players whispering and blaming others.

“They were pointing fingers, saying certain individuals were letting us down every week, with a lot of backstabbing and not enough looking in the mirror.

“Then there is often no faith in the manager either. So Erik ten Hag — good luck mate!”

Meanwhile, former Premier League footballer Noel Whelan thinks Man Utd need a shake-up in the recruitment department after appointing Ten Hag.

Whelan told Football Insider: “Oh yeah. They got it wrong for so many years.

“You’re talking six years of transfer that have been disastrous, pretty much. He absolutely had to go. If you’re bringing in a new manager, a new team to work in, a new era, you need to have changes in those areas.

“He had to go whether it was a new manager or not. His job was not successful in the last six years. So absolutely, it’s a new clean slate.

“You can see the clear out happening already. I’m sure Ten Hag will have an idea of somebody else he wants in there as well. Someone that’s going to help him, that he trusts and has been successful for him.”