Ten Hag breaks silence on toxic culture, Rashford discipline and broken promises at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has launched a pointed critique of Manchester United’s hierarchy, accusing the club’s board of fuelling a “toxic culture” by siding with players over his disciplinary decisions — comments made possible after the expiry of his non-disclosure agreement with the club.

Speaking to The Athletic in his hometown of Enschede, the Netherlands, the former United manager discussed broken promises, transfer targets he failed to land, and his well-documented fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo. But it was his remarks on dressing-room discipline — and specifically Marcus Rashford — that are likely to generate the most attention.

“And so, they are continuing the toxic culture,” Ten Hag said of the United board. “They fuel it, they give the power to the players. Rashford is an amazing player, if his mindset is right. I always showed my trust in him, played him, but when you show these standards, sometimes you have to make corrections.”

Rashford scored 30 goals in Ten Hag’s debut season and was rewarded with a reported £350,000-per-week contract in June 2023, but the relationship deteriorated sharply the following campaign. The forward scored just once in his first ten league appearances that season, and his decision to visit a nightclub in the aftermath of a heavy defeat to Manchester City drew a public rebuke from Ten Hag, who called the behaviour “unacceptable”.

Rashford apologised, but a subsequent trip to Belfast — arriving just days before United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Newport County — escalated matters further. The club summoned Rashford’s brother and representative, Dwaine Maynard, to Carrington. Rashford missed the Newport game, and Ten Hag declined to address the situation publicly ahead of the following fixture against Wolves, though he did confirm his belief in the necessity of player discipline when pressed.

Ten Hag also used the interview to throw his support behind Michael Carrick, the current United manager, while suggesting the board’s continued reluctance to back strong disciplinary measures has allowed underlying problems to persist. His successor Ruben Amorim had also moved to address dressing-room issues, reportedly removing several disruptive figures to create a more cohesive squad.

United have endured their worst start to a Premier League season in 40 years, though the club’s current struggles are widely attributed to tactical and structural factors rather than the cultural tensions that defined much of the Ten Hag era. The Dutchman’s willingness to speak now, freed from contractual constraints, suggests there is considerably more to emerge about the internal workings of Old Trafford during his two-and-a-half years in charge.