Man United’s dressing room was a ‘TOXIC mix of backbiting and spitefulness’ this season, with Ralf Rangnick subject to ‘bully behaviour’, handed the nickname ‘specs’ behind his back and others claiming they ‘did not give a s****’ about German’s advice
- Manchester United ended a dismal season with a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace
- Noises from within the dressing room talk of a ‘toxic’ atmosphere throughout
- Jesse Lingard was not worried about his description of the mood going public
- He and Marcus Rashford were sent on against Man City with no instructions
- Players have been bewildered by the playing time given to Anthony Elanga
Erik ten Hag has the challenge of turning around a ‘toxic’ dressing room culture as one of his key jobs at Manchester United.
The Dutch head coach is to be unveiled to the press on Monday afternoon, after United’s dismal Premier League season came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
With the club missing out on the target of Champions League football, Ten Hag has the unenvious task of turning around a demoralised dressing room over the summer, in a bid to challenge at the top of the table next term.
Erik ten Hag appears to have a massive job on his hands turn around a ‘toxic’ dressing room
However, it has been revealed that the situation maybe much more critical than first realised, with accounts emanating from Old Trafford suggesting that there is an immediate need to address the culture inside the club.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the United squad has been described as a ‘toxic mix of backbiting and spitefulness’ after a season to forget. While this has been publicised on previous occasions, more detail has emerged.
According to the report, ‘bully behaviour’ has been directed towards interim head coach Ralf Rangnick, who was nicknamed ‘specs’ by people close to one of the stars inside the dressing room.
Rangnick also had his decisions openly described as ‘bad’ by one player, while others moaned about the German talking to them ‘like a child’. They also suggested they ‘did not give a s****’ about his advice.
Some players have described the mood within the United squad during the season as ‘toxic’
Ralf Rangnick was given the nickname ‘specs’ behind his back by some of the first-team squad
Jesse Lingard’s feelings on the state of the atmosphere inside the dressing room was laid bare by Paul Scholes during one media appearance, as he shared the winger’s analysis that it was a ‘disaster’. According to the report, Lingard was not fussed about the public sharing of his words.
It is also claimed that Lingard and Marcus Rashford were given no instructions whatsoever when they were sent on as substitutes during the 4-1 defeat by rivals Manchester City. ‘They didn’t have a f*****g clue what they were doing,’ was the assessment of one source.
The blame for such instances was placed at the door of American coach Chris Armas. Some within Carrington felt the 49-year-old was ‘out of his depth’.
Paul Scholes commented that Jesse Lingard had described the dressing room as a ‘disaster’
It is claimed Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard weren’t given instructions against Man City
Indeed, according to The Athletic, Armas was given a brutal assessment by former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, the Scot remarking: ‘You’ll need more than that here, son,’ upon seeing his c.v.
Ferguson was reportedly fascinated by the frustration inside the United changing room and would often seek to guage the mood throughout the campaign.
Playing time was another frustration among the squad. The lack of team ethos was illustrated by one player’s desire to speak ‘disapragingly’ of any other team-mate who was in his position.
There was also bewilderment surrounding the amount of game time handed to youngster Anthony Elanga. Some United team-mates described it as ‘mind-boggling’.
Some within the club have been baffled by the playing time afforded to Anthony Elanga
