Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag unleashed on his players after their appalling capitulation in a 7-0 loss to Liverpool, giving them “the full hairdryer treatment” – before changing tack in a novel punishment for their woeful performance.
One week after lifting the Carabao Cup with victory over Newcastle, United fell apart in stunning fashion at Anfield, with Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah all bagging braces and Roberto Firmino scoring once in United’s worst defeat in 92 years.
As soon as the players made it back into the sheds after full time, their Dutch tactician let loose.
According to The Sun, Ten Hag was understandably “the angriest he’s ever been”.
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The report writes: “No player was spared in a dressing down which lasted several minutes.
“Our insider said: ‘Ten Hag was livid. After the game he was straight down the tunnel, and as soon as the players got into the changing room he ripped into them.
‘It was the full hairdryer treatment. He explained he can accept defeat but that the way they’d performed was unprofessional.
‘No one individual was singled out. But Ten Hag said everyone, himself included, now needed to learn from it and do a lot better.’”
According to Sky Sports: “The message he shared to the squad was peppered with more colourful language that can’t be repeated, which translated to “a disgrace.””
The Mirror wrote: “A United source said: ‘Ten Hag was obviously furious and told them they were lucky to be getting on the team bus back to Old Trafford and not made to travel back with the fans.
‘He warned them all that if anything like that happens again, there won’t be another chance for them and they’ll be put in the Under-21s.’
But the Dutchman’s next move was even more damning.
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Ten Hag reportedly forced the squad to sit in silence and listen to Liverpool’s wild celebrations in the stadium and the neighbouring dressing room, as well as the ecstasy of the fans who remained in the stands long after the final whistle.
Manchester United’s players returned to the training ground at 9am the following morning to try and get their season back on track.
But having largely avoided fronting the media in the wake of the defeat, with only captain Bruno Fernandes and ten Hag speaking publicly and all players refusing to answer questions in the media’s mixed zone, many of the humiliated side took to social media to apologise for their poor showing.
Veteran gloveman David de Gea tweeted: “This was a disastrous moment for us and these results shouldn’t happen, especially with the journey we are all on.
“We have a duty to this club, a responsibility to represent the badge, but we have many opportunities to look ahead, many games coming fast and we have to lock our focus on these.”
England fullback Luke Shaw told Manchester United TV the performance was ‘unacceptable’ and ‘embarrassing’.
“It’s really unacceptable what we did in that second half with mistakes.
“We showed no personality, no mentality and for a big team to come here we need to be better.”
The Red Devils next face Spaniards Real Betis in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg on Friday morning (AEDT).
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