Fred Accuses Erik ten Hag of Dividing Manchester United Dressing Room

Fred has delivered a blunt assessment of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United reign, praising the former manager’s tactical ability while accusing him of creating divisions inside the Old Trafford dressing room.

The Brazilian midfielder spent five seasons with United after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018. He left for Fenerbahce before the 2023-24 campaign, having won the League Cup and appeared in an FA Cup final during his time in Manchester.

Quick facts

• Fred played for Manchester United from 2018 until his move to Fenerbahce in 2023.
• He said Erik ten Hag was among the best coaches he had worked with tactically.
• Fred alleged that Ten Hag regularly clashed with senior players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.
• Ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024 after United took seven points from seven league matches and sat 14th.
• Fred spoke positively about former United managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.

Speaking on the Charla Podcast, Fred said Ten Hag’s work on the training pitch was not matched by his handling of players. “Tactically, he was very good, but with the group he was a piece of crap,” the 32-year-old said.

Fred claimed the Dutchman was involved in disputes across the squad. He said he had arguments with Ten Hag himself, as well as Ronaldo, Casemiro and Rashford, and recalled becoming frustrated when opportunities in the side became limited.

The former Brazil international also alleged that Ten Hag favoured Dutch players and described the environment as clique-driven. Yet he maintained that the coach’s football knowledge stood out, saying Ten Hag was one of the strongest tactical managers he had encountered.

Fred pointed to the handling of Ronaldo as a flashpoint. He said Ten Hag wanted a high-running team and felt the Portuguese forward’s age became a factor, with Ronaldo subsequently removed from the regular starting side before their relationship deteriorated.

Different view of Solskjaer and Mourinho

Fred drew a more favourable comparison with Solskjaer, who managed United from December 2018 to November 2021. He credited the Norwegian with bringing the squad together, while noting that Solskjaer received significant support from his coaching staff on the training ground.

He was similarly warm in his remarks on Mourinho, the manager who signed him for United. Fred described Mourinho as funny and decent, adding that he had recently seen him again at Fenerbahce.

Fred also recalled rumours linking Mourinho with the Brazil national team before Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment. He said Mourinho dismissed the speculation and insisted that he intended to remain with his club.

Ten Hag’s United exit

Ten Hag arrived at United after a successful spell at Ajax, where he won major domestic honours and led the Dutch club to the Champions League semi-finals. In Manchester, he lifted the League Cup and FA Cup during a two-and-a-half-year tenure.

His spell ended in October 2024 after United’s poor beginning to the 2024-25 Premier League season. The club had fallen to 14th after seven matches, their weakest league start since the 1989-90 campaign, prompting the board to end his contract despite the domestic cup trophies.