Erik ten Hag can’t handle Man United big players with Ajax mentality, says Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Erik ten Hag has made a mistake by trying to handle Manchester United players with the same methods he fostered at Ajax.

Ten Hag, 53, won plenty of plaudits during his first year at Old Trafford but is under pressure this term. The Dutchman has overseen the club’s worst start to a league season in 34 years and was booed off the pitch by fans after losing to Crystal Palace at the weekend.

The United hierarchy identified Ten Hag as the man to rebuild the club in the wake of his impressive work at Ajax, where he won three Dutch titles in four years. However, the expectations at United are far greater than Ajax – something that Ibrahimovic was keen to stress while discussing his former club’s current woes.

During an interview with TalkTV, Ibrahimovic spoke of the need to adopt a different approach at Manchester United due to the calibre of players at the club. He feels, though, that Ten Hag has treated the high-profile players he is currently managing in the same manner as his old Ajax team.

He said: “Coming from Ajax to United as he did is a big difference — I have been in both clubs. You have a different kind of discipline. Ajax is a talented club. They have the best talents in the club. They don’t have big stars.

“What is the experience of this coach? Young talents, he comes to United, it is a different mentality. The players there are supposed to be big stars. I don’t think you give the same treatment.”

Pressure is beginning to grow on Ten Hag in the wake of United’s shambolic start to the season. Their defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday means the club have lost four of their opening seven league games for the first time in the Premier League era.