"I DIDN'T LIKE IT!" Ben Foster SLAMS Erik Ten Hag for SHOCK comments on Man Utd!
Ben Foster slams Ten Hag for public comments as Carrick denies toxic United culture
The show discusses Erik ten Hag's claims about a toxic culture at Manchester United, with Michael Carrick saying he has not felt that since returning. Ben Foster criticizes Ten Hag for airing internal stories, defends how older stars like Cristiano Ronaldo are managed, and discusses Arsenal, United's ambition and Marcus Rashford's lack of minutes.
- I have not felt the toxic culture Ten Hag described since returning to United; the group is together and the players and staff are giving everything for each other. — His own experience since returning in January, plus the effort, will and determination the team has shown.
- I did not like Ten Hag airing United's internal matters publicly; a serving manager in mid-career should not be telling these stories because future clubs will worry he will tattle on them. — This usually comes from retired players doing podcasts, the timing is strange for a current manager, and it makes him look like he will reveal dressing-room stories.
- Older stars like Ronaldo should not be expected to train and press like younger players; you tailor his week so he is ready for Saturday. — His experience and past output have earned him credit, and older players need to avoid injury because their value is on matchday.
- The timing of Ten Hag speaking may be linked to United finally paying off his compensation two years after his sacking, so he can now speak more freely. — The timing coincides with the two-year point since he left United and the compensation payment, so it is read as him no longer having those restraints.
- The Brighton defeat scared Arsenal, and they are better off playing more controlled football and grinding out narrow wins rather than being too open. — Their open style was punished easily, so they have gone back to prioritizing defensive solidity and 1-0 or 2-0 wins.
- United lacked the belief to kill the game after taking the lead against Leeds and settled for protecting a narrow win; that is not the United way. — They did not push on to extend the lead in the second half and sat back instead, showing a lack of belief to go and win the game.
- Rashford is getting no opportunity at all; he should have been brought on against Leeds to use his pace and change the game. — When I saw him warming up, I thought he had to come on because United needed someone who could make a difference.
Ben Foster joined Alan Brazil and Gabby Agbonlahor on Breajfast to discuss Erik Ten Hag's public comments on his time at Man Utd. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague
Transcript
Tonight 5:45 kickoff sees United head to Serie A up and comers Como, managed of course by former Arsenal Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas live on talkSPORT 2. But the build-up has been dominated by our former United boss, Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who has slammed the toxic culture at Old Trafford amongst other things. Current head coach Michael Carrick was asked whether he's experiencing the same kind of culture since returning to the club in January. >> I haven't since since I came back. Um the players, the staff, they've they've given us everything that they that they could give. Yeah, we've had some good performances, we've had some performances that we want we want to do better, we can improve on. We've made some mistakes, that's that's football and and that's pushing performance, but um I have to say and I'll kind of repeat what I said the other day, you know, if if you haven't got a good group um type of the type of performance I'm not talking about the level, but the type of performance that the the boys um put into the weekend and and um showed in athletic all for for large parts I think in in what the feeling that we have. Um there's a lot of togetherness there, there's a lot of will, there's a lot of um determination to to to do better and and want to do it for each other, which is important. So, um in that regard for is the group I'm I I couldn't be happier with with uh the togetherness. >> There you go, Michael Carrick there on Erik ten Hag. He must be getting sick of all the questions being fired on Michael about United. But it's is it part of the job though? I know, but you know what didn't help him out. >> You see Nicky Butt does a podcast. Yeah, he said on the podcast that he spoke to Michael Carrick and he says managing's not for me really unless I get the big job, Man United. You know, like some of the ex-players, they're not helping him when they come out with stuff that you've been you've said in you know, in a minute >> it that bad? >> No, but it makes you feel like oh, he's only Man United job you'll get, you're not really into managing anymore. I just feel like Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes on that podcast really >> Hold on a minute, what are you doing this afternoon? >> I am going to play paddle. >> No, you're not. >> What are you talking about? >> What are you doing this afternoon? >> I'm going to shout out. >> With Charlie Adam, what are you doing this afternoon? Tell the listeners. >> What's wrong with you? >> Tell the listeners the truth. What are you doing? >> I am doing a podcast. >> [laughter] >> It's called >> Oh, dear. >> It's called All Out Football Podcast. >> And let's get another view. Join us now, two-time trophy-winning United keeper Ben Foster. Ben, morning, Ben. >> Morning, Ben. >> Morning, lads. Morning, how are we? We're good. >> Yeah, two-faced Gabby's alongside me, Ben. >> [laughter] >> That's him all right. Good but I can see you can see his face there, the realization you've got him, Ally. >> Yeah, you've got me. Oh, that's me, you're right. >> Oh, dear. >> Right, you played with Ronaldo as a borderline It's what is criminal to suggest he's unprofessional, isn't it, from Ten Hag? I can't I don't understand what he's trying to point out here. >> Yeah, it's Do you know what? It's a weird one as well because normally you get these things, like Gabby said there a minute ago, you normally get these things from ex-players who do podcasts and they can come out and say what they want. But you very rarely get anything like this from a manager and actually a current serving manager, somebody who's probably, I think what is his What is his name? Ten Hag? I think he's like in his mid-50s, isn't he? So you'd think he's probably got another 10 years or so, maybe. If he was coming to the end of his management career, I could understand it as well, but right in the middle of his career as well, it's such weird timing, you know. If I was If I was at a club where Erik ten Hag is being linked to being come the manager, I'm thinking, I don't know if I fancy this, do you know, cuz he's he's going to go and tattle-tale and tell stories about me. So I I didn't like it at all. >> Ben as well. Ben, during your career, how many times were the players in their mid-30s, maybe? Ronaldo is 35, 36, even 37 at his last year at Manchester United. They're never going to train as hard as the other players, are they? The ones in their 20s, they're going to be able to get out of the runs. They're going to be able to maybe not press as much in the possession and try and try to stay injury-free. >> Exactly. So it's it's normal, isn't it? >> Ben. >> Without doubt, it's not. And what you do is when you've got a player with somebody with the experience of a Cristiano Ronaldo, you basically say, "Right, mate, you tailor your week to make sure you're ready for the Saturday afternoon." because you know what you're going to get from them on a Saturday afternoon. >> Mhm. >> So, expect him Ronaldo to do exactly the same sort of donkey work really as what the other players need to do. It doesn't apply to him. It really doesn't cuz he's he's got that credit in the bank already. >> Yeah. We had Robert Pires in his mid-30s at Villa for a season. And like he he he he wouldn't get go and do all the pressing and the the stuff we done. >> What about Paul McGrath? >> Yeah. >> Paul McGrath, was he not Villa's player of the year? Hardly trains. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Johnny Ward done it at Ipswich. He was injured all the time. >> Yeah, he played for England. >> King at Spurs. There's plenty of players the same. You know what you're going to get from him on a Saturday afternoon. Just make sure you're ready for Saturday afternoon. >> I had to bend I I don't I don't I don't know what Ten Hag's trying to get at this to be honest. If he had a new book coming out, yeah, I'd accept it. Well, that's why. But it's right out of the blue. I thought what's what's wrong with him? What's he trying to prove here? >> It was interesting um listening to Simon Jordan yesterday actually cuz he was talking about it when it when it first really came out and he said um it sounds like the timing is is about the same sort of time when his uh his 2-year I think it's his 2 years since um he got sacked from United. So, they had to finally pay that compensation money up. So, now it's time to sort of uh do what you want. >> What about What about looking ahead positive now tonight? Great game. Arsenal go to Bayern. They're going to have to play better than they did against Forest. >> Yeah, they are. Yeah. In fairness, Forest are a decent team. Um especially away, you know you're going to have a tough game there. Um but Arsenal, you know they I think um I think the Brighton game has probably scared them a little bit. I think when they um going to get pumped so easily as what they did just trying to play open football open style of football. Um I think it's just made them think, you know what? We're we're really good here at grinding out 1-0 2-0 wins and being the dominant team and but not being too expansive at the same time. And I think they probably just got back to that a little bit more. But tonight's going to be a really interesting game. Bayern Munich, we know they're a top-class team. Um watching the the games that were were on last night, Bayern and uh sorry Barcelona and PSG, just ah I love it. I do. I could watch that sort of football all day long. It's brilliant to watch. >> Well, you won't be seeing that tonight, will you um coma versus Manchester United. But what What think about Manchester United and Ben, because they were better defensively, weren't they? But laboring there with Santos on the weekend, but Marcus Rashford, I know you love to bring him up, he's one of our own, but I want to see him playing and scoring and smiling, but he's not getting a kick, is he? >> He's not getting a sniff, mate. I saw him warming up in the in the game against Leeds and I thought surely [snorts] you've got to bring him on. Somebody with a little bit of pace, somebody could do something, but just just nowhere near at the minute. You know, it was a it was a tough watch against Leeds. It really was cuz I'm, you know, first half they've won 1-0, I'm thinking come out second half, just dominate the game and go and win the game 2-3-0 and they didn't. They sat back and that's the bit that's the worrying bit for me is that lack of belief to go on and win games. It's almost like, right, we've got one goal, let's just try and consolidate, let get out of here with a 1-0 win, get the three points and that'll do and that's not the Man United way at all. >> Yeah. Ben, brilliant. Listen, enjoy the football tonight. We'll talk to you later. Thank you. >> Cheers, guys. All the best. >> Brilliant Ben Foster there. Right, coming up we'll find out just how special it was to be in Anfield for that Rio Ferdinand performance and also Ingemar, so I missed one there. And also whether Phil Foden is forcing Thomas Tuchel to think again. Adrian Durham is with us next.