Fred brands Ten Hag 'a piece of c***' and accuses him of favouring Dutch clique at United

Former Manchester United midfielder Fred has launched a withering attack on ex-manager Erik ten Hag, describing the Dutchman as “a piece of c***” in an interview on the Charla Podcast, while acknowledging his tactical quality.

Fred, who spent five years at Old Trafford after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported £52.5 million in 2018, said Ten Hag’s handling of the dressing room was the defining flaw of his tenure. “Ten Hag was tactically very good, but with the group he was a piece of c***,” the Brazilian said. “He argued with everyone. He argued with me, with Cristiano [Ronaldo], with Casemiro, with [Marcus] Rashford. He wouldn’t put me in to play; sometimes it got stressful. Only his Dutch players played. A clique-ridden coach. But, tactically, one of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

Fred also shed light on Ten Hag’s well-documented falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting the manager’s physical demands were at the root of the rift. “He wanted the team to run, but Cristiano was older. He took Cristiano out, and then there was a falling out.”

Ten Hag was appointed by the Glazers in 2022 and initially impressed, but United’s form deteriorated sharply. By October 2024, the club sat 14th in the Premier League having collected just eight points from seven matches — their worst start to a top-flight season since 1989/90. Sir Jim Ratcliffe dismissed him that month despite having triggered a one-year contract extension only months earlier. Ruud van Nistelrooy briefly stepped in as interim before Ruben Amorim was appointed as permanent successor.

Fred himself had already departed by that point, leaving United in 2023 to join Fenerbahce.

Ten Hag’s struggles continued after leaving Old Trafford. He signed a two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025 but was relieved of his duties just two months later, having overseen only three matches. Kasper Hjulmand replaced him at the Bundesliga club. Ten Hag has since moved into club administration, taking up the role of sporting director at Eredivisie side Twente in February, succeeding Jan Streuer on a contract running until 2028.

At United, Michael Carrick — who initially stepped in on an interim basis following Amorim’s departure earlier this year — is now in permanent charge, inheriting a club that has gone without a trophy under two successive managers.