Club Legend Andy Cole: Erik ten Hag Losing Control of Old Trafford Dressing Room

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Andy Cole asserts the presence of a ‘certain mole’ at Manchester United, revealing the unsettling leakage of stories from the inner workings of the Old Trafford dressing room.

Erik ten Hag faces mounting challenges to maintain control, with the Dutch coach’s future under scrutiny amidst a season marked by inconsistency in both domestic and continental competitions.

Internal divisions have been reported, including the sidelining of players like Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, while alleged star performers like Marcus Rashford grapple with concerning declines in form.

Manchester United has struggled to contain the stream of negative news, and 1999 treble winner Cole, sharing insights with Betfred, discusses the challenging situation: “There’s definitely a mole, isn’t there? Nothing positive comes from a healthy dressing room, regardless of internal dynamics. It’s natural for players and managers to have disagreements in football, but in a well-functioning dressing room, these matters stay internal. At Manchester United currently, information is consistently leaking, suggesting a lack of unity. In a truly united dressing room, such leaks wouldn’t occur. Typically, information surfaces when things aren’t going well – players unhappy with game time, the team’s performance, or their personal form. The constant negative narrative from the dressing room isn’t conducive to team progress.”

Cole observes that Manchester United has been on a prolonged decline, losing its former dominance in English football both on and off the pitch. The ex-striker notes, “It’s a completely different situation now from when Sir Alex Ferguson was at the club. In the past, players were eager to join Manchester United and win titles. Unlike the old days, if there was a fallout between Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho, they could easily replace him with another top player. However, the current position of Manchester United makes it harder to attract players to Old Trafford.”

He further comments on the club’s struggle in player recruitment, stating, “How many top-tier players are now linked with moves to Manchester United? Hardly any. The prominent names are now associated with clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool. When conflicts arise with players, caution is necessary, as ultimately, you’ll need them unless their replacement is superior. For a considerable period, Manchester United has signed players who haven’t significantly improved the squad, leading to this situation persisting for over a decade.”

Manchester United has maintained significant spending in the transfer market, securing players such as Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund in the summer of 2023.

Despite these investments, the club has yet to witness substantial returns, prompting the need for additional transfers both in and out of Old Trafford. This comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to acquire a 25 percent stake in the club.

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