Erik Ten Hag doesn’t have what it takes to coach this big club but INEOS will not see it Now to sack Him early until He spoils everything”, Rio Ferdinand blast Ten Hag for benching £60m Man united player last night despite their big win – Not Garnacho and Not Maguire

Rio Ferdinand has criticized Erik ten Hag’s decision-making at Manchester United, questioning whether the Dutch manager is truly equipped to lead such a prominent club. Ferdinand’s frustration stemmed from Ten Hag’s choice to bench a £60 million player during their recent match, despite the team securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Southampton. This criticism was not directed towards players like Alejandro Garnacho or Harry Maguire, but rather Manuel Ugarte, who was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup.

During the match, Manchester United’s goals came from Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho, ensuring a comprehensive win. Adding to the team’s success, Andre Onana played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Cameron Archer just before De Ligt scored the opening goal with a header.

Before the game, fans and pundits alike were puzzled when Christian Eriksen was named in the starting lineup instead of Ugarte. Eriksen’s inclusion came after Casemiro’s poor performance against Liverpool, which prompted Ten Hag to make a change. However, many expected Ugarte, a recent £43 million acquisition from Paris Saint-Germain, to take that spot, despite the disruption caused by the international break.

Ugarte was eventually introduced in the 73rd minute, replacing Eriksen. His presence on the pitch not only helped Manchester United secure the win but also allowed them to score a third goal. Ten Hag later explained that Ugarte’s absence from the starting lineup was due to his limited preparation time. The midfielder had only managed two training sessions with the team, one of which took place just before the international break. Ten Hag explained: “He only trained for 20 minutes with the team yesterday. It was a short time, but we’re glad we could bring him on today to show what he can bring to the team.”

In addition to defending his decision regarding Ugarte, Ten Hag also addressed the criticism aimed at Marcus Rashford, who had faced growing scrutiny in recent weeks. Rashford had been struggling to find the back of the net but broke his drought with a well-taken goal against Southampton. Ten Hag highlighted how important it was not to get caught up in outside criticism, saying: “There was too much negativity towards him, but we don’t pay attention to that. Rashford has been creating chances, even in games like the one against Liverpool. He deserved his goal, but it takes hard work to get there, and he’s been putting in that effort.”

Rashford’s goal marked his 132nd for Manchester United, a milestone that Ten Hag was quick to praise. He emphasized how impressive Rashford’s goal tally is for a player of his age and expressed confidence that more goals would follow as the striker builds momentum. “Scoring goals early in the season is vital for any striker,” Ten Hag noted. “It builds confidence, and that belief will lead to even more goals.”

Despite Manchester United’s victory and Ten Hag’s post-match explanations, Ferdinand remains unconvinced of the manager’s ability to handle the pressures of leading such a high-profile team. He fears that INEOS, the club’s potential new owners, might fail to see the issues early enough, allowing Ten Hag to stay in charge longer than necessary and potentially cause more damage to the team’s future.