'My generation had thicker skin' – Erik ten Hag breaks silence on Man United tenure

Erik ten Hag has spoken at length about his Manchester United tenure in a published interview with his agency. 

Under the moniker SEG Stories, his agency SEG spoke to the 55-year-old who reflected on his time at Old Trafford, suggesting that some players could not take criticism well.

Asked what plays a massive role in football today, Ten Hag replied: “A player’s well-being. How they handle media, fan reactions, social media – it affects their game.

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“For some, it’s positive, for others negative. This generation struggles with criticism – it hits them hard. My generation had thicker skin; you could be much more direct with us. If I used that approach now, I’d demotivate them – they’d be at HR the next day.”

The Dutchman, who was sacked as Man United boss in October following a series of poor results, was then asked if he felt he was a good coach or not.

“What’s a good coach?” he replied. “I’ve developed well, but I’m not satisfied. There’s room to improve. I’m decent, I think. I see so much room to get better. That’s the beauty of sport – there’s always growth, as a coach, as a person.”

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