Erik ten Hag made to regret comments about Man Utd duo before Fulham clash

Erik ten Hag could be made to regret previous comments about two of his crucial Manchester United players if he loses his job in the coming weeks. The United manager is fighting for his life but reportedly rubbed his dressing room up the wrong way with explanations on why he had snubbed an influential duo earlier this season.

United travel to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon for what feels like a must-win game, even though Ten Hag won’t admit it.

The Red Devils have lost eight of their 15 games this season and are eighth in the league, 11 points off leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Ten Hag’s sticky situations with Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire have been well-documented, given he has exiled the former and attempted to offload the latter while simultaneously stripping him as captain.

But he is claimed to have also fractured his relationships with Raphael Varane and Casemiro – two crucial figures last term – during United’s disastrous start to his second season in charge.

Casemiro has failed to replicate his sensational 2022/23 form after joining in a £70million deal from Real Madrid, and he was hauled off at half-time while United trailed 1-0 to Brentford.

Click here to join our Man Utd WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive Red Devils news.

After Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time brace to earn a dramatic 2-1 win at Old Trafford, Ten Hag explained he withdrew Casemiro because he wanted to “play more football”.

According to The Athletic, that reasoning didn’t go down well in the dressing room.

The report claims he also raised eyebrows by dropping Raphael Varane for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Ten Hag opted for Jonny Evans – who joined United on a one-year contract as a free agent in the summer – alongside Harry Maguire, citing “tactical reasons”.