Ten Hag punished his team for running a total of eight-and-a-half miles less than Brentford by making them cover the same distance yesterday in temperatures of over 30 degrees. Sportsmail understands that concerns among United’s coaching staff over the effort put in by some players in training last week were justified by their pathetic performance at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be training well, he exchanged words with Ten Hag’s No 2, Steve McClaren, at the final whistle after refusing to applaud United’s travelling fans, and there is a feeling that his mood is having a negative effect on the dressing room.
However, United last night dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo’s contract could be cancelled, and reiterated that he is staying at the club.
Ten Hag decided to crack down on his under-achieving stars. He arrived early yesterday before leading an inquest into the latest humiliation.
The thrashing at Brentford followed an embarrassing 2-1 defeat by Brighton at Old Trafford on the opening weekend.
Ten Hag is the first United manager in over a century to lose his first two games. United, the 20-time champions of England, sank to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Worryingly, the next fixture is at home against arch-rivals Liverpool who won 5-0 on their last visit to Old Trafford in October. Further protests against the club’s owners are planned for that game as United teeter is on the brink of a full-blown crisis. Ten Hag will use Saturday’s defeat to step up his demands for new signings before the transfer window closes on September 1.
He acknowledged afterwards that United desperately need to strengthen, but is still waiting for a defensive midfielder and a forward.
‘We need new players. We need quality players,’ he said. ‘We are working on that and we’ll do everything to convince them to come.’
United are hopeful of completing a deal worth £15.2million rising to £19m for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Football director John Murtough is set to continue talks with the Frenchman’s mother and agent Veronique today.
Sources insist that signing would not mean the end of United’s pursuit of top target Frenkie de Jong even though the Dutchman is thought to favour joining Chelsea if he leaves Barcelona.
De Jong would cost in excess of £70m but a significant portion of that money could be used to buy a forward if the deal falls through.
Having considered Stuttgart’s £15m-rated striker Sasa Kalajdzic, United would be able to pay more for the likes of PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo at £35m. They have also been offered Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Mauro Icardi of Paris Saint-Germain.
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