Gary Lineker claimed Erik ten Hag has done one thing during his tenure at Manchester United that is unacceptable.
On Monday, various publications including Sky Sports claimed several United players have become disenchanted with Ten Hag due to his playing style and treatment of Jadon Sancho.
In the wake of Saturday's dismal 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, one source told the publication that 50 per cent of the dressing room had turned against Ten Hag, a claim the Dutchman has subsequently denied.
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Multiple reports have alleged that Ten Hag’s treatment of Sancho has caused factions in the dressing room.
Sancho has been exiled from United’s first team for months after he hit back at the United boss for publicly criticising his performances in training.
The England international denied Ten Hag’s claims adding that he had been made a "scapegoat" at United.
And speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said that Ten Hag’s one misstep during his United tenure has been his public criticism of his team.
Lineker said: “I think in the modern age management has changed. You’ve got to have the players on board. You can’t just go around bollocking players. In fact, it was always a no-no - going public with players.
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“I think that’s the one area that I would criticise Ten Hag a bit.
“I don’t think he’s handled brilliantly situations with various players now. He’s had a lot to deal with but he’s repeatedly been critical openly and publicly and that’s the one thing that was always, even when I played, unacceptable.
“You could take any kind of bollocking in the dressing room, but the minute a manager puts you down publicly that is a no-no.”
In a press conference ahead of United’s Chelsea encounter, Ten Hag dismissed reports that there was disorder in his squad.
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He said: "Not in the dressing room. Of course, there are a lot of rumours but it is not that we get distracted by it.
"We are on a journey. We know we are in transition but we are in the right direction.
"We construct a team, develop it, the team is progressing, young players are coming in and you see the potential of how they can contribute to a successful Manchester United team for the future."
Featured Image Credit: Getty/Rest is Football via YouTubeTopics: Gary Lineker, Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United, Jadon Sancho, Football