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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag quickly shut down Rio Ferdinand for a question about doubts over his playstyle after Saturday’s 1-0 win against Fulham. The Red Devils weren’t convincing again but clinched three points at Craven Cottage with a last-gasp moment of magic by Bruno Fernandes.
United sent the vocal travelling fans home happy after a nightmare week as Old Trafford witnessed back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Newcastle United.
But Ten Hag’s side, still missing a number of key players, weren’t at their best, and the result will merely paper over the cracks showing in the Dutchman’s reign.
After full-time, Ferdinand approached Ten Hag about concerns about his lack of playstyle at United compared to the likes of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, Unai Emery at Aston Villa and Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and Hove Albion.
But the United boss wasn’t having any of it, reputing Ferdinand’s suggestion with a straight-faced reply, pointing him in the direction of his successful first season in England.
“With all respect [to Rio Ferdinand], didn’t you see my style of play last season?” Ten Hag rapidly responded.
Ferdinand then doubled down, clarifying he meant this season rather than the Dutchman’s maiden campaign in the job.
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Ten Hag hit back: “This season, no, not quite, but people should know why. It’s because we have so many injuries.
“Every time we have to swap a player in and out, the routines they’re used to won’t be exactly there, and that is what you’re seeing at this moment in our team.
“Obviously, we need to be winning games; that’s not an excuse, but when there are players that aren’t available, the roles won’t be the same.
“We have good players, but they can’t play the same position with different people in every lineup. Once we’re healed, then we’ll play better.”
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Once Ten Hag had gone back down the tunnel, Ferdinand praised him for showing fight while scrutiny mounts over his position as United manager.
He added: “That’s good [from Ten Hag]. I like to hear that because the knives would’ve been out for him, for his team, if they’d lost that game.
“You can’t underestimate the impact that’ll have on the dressing room in there. It would’ve transmitted through all of them and added another layer of pressure to them.
“But they weathered storms and they showed the character, the composure to come here away from home and managed to get the three points.”
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