Carragher blames Ten Hag for four transfers that have taken Man Utd 'backwards'
Jamie Carragher insists Erik ten Hag - not the Glazers - must take responsibility for signing Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat.
Manchester United have made a poor start to the season. They've suffered home defeats to Brighton and Crystal Palace to leave them eighth in the Premier League table. They've also lost twice in the Champions League, including to Galatasaray at Old Trafford.
United have spent a fortune on players since Sir Alex Ferguson's exit in 2013, signing the likes of Harry Maguire, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial for record fees. The three-time European champions have been criticised for adopting a scattergun transfer policy.
Ten Hag has continued that trend since his appointment in May 2022. He agreed a £70million deal to sign a 30-year-old Casemiro from Real Madrid and spent nearly £200m to bring in three of his former Ajax stars - Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Andre Onana.
Ten Hag enjoyed a good first season in charge - finishing third in the Premier League, winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup final - but they appear to have declined again. Carragher believes United's transfer "short-termism" is to blame.
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"Ten Hag realises he does not have the profile of midfielders required to build from the back as he did at Ajax," Carragher told The Telegraph. "Nor does he have the personnel for a pressing game. The fact he cannot do this in his second year at Old Trafford is on him."
Carragher believes Casemiro "no longer has the legs for the job" after series of underwhelming performances this season, with the Liverpool icon criticising the Brazilian's "big contract". His deal doesn't expire until June 2026, with the option of a further year.
Erik ten Hag is under pressure at Old Trafford (AFP via Getty Images)Do you agree with Jamie Carragher? Let us know in the comments below!
Carragher also thinks Ten Hag can't depend on Christian Eriksen, insisting he only "brings quality from the bench". He added: "The short-termism of those deals has repercussions, hence the recent signings of midfielders Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat."
Carragher has urged Ten Hag to recognise his mistakes before it's too late. There's no guarantee the Dutchman will have more money to spend in the January transfer window, with United currently going through a long and tedious takeover process.
INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is on the verge of buying a 25 per cent stake in the club from the Glazer family. The British billionaire is expected to take control of football operations and could introduce a new sporting director to work alongside Ten Hag.
Carragher added: "Ten Hag is therefore paying for immediately compromising his principles. Without a radical shake-up of the squad he will continue to do so. That is his mistake as it was he - not the Glazers - who pursued those signings in his first summer, believing he had to hit the ground running when the club needed to consider the long-term direction."
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