11 December 2023 , 14:02
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Scott McTominay admitted Manchester United's dressing room has been a toxic place in recent seasons – but claimed all of the players are behind Erik ten Hag.
United must beat Bayern Munich on Tuesday night and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw, if they are to reach the last-16 of the Champions League. Ten Hag's side have lost 11 of their 23 games this season, the latest setback being Saturday's humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, arguably their worst display of the campaign.
McTominay admitted there had been a poisonous atmosphere at times under previous United bosses, but insisted the current squad are on the same page as Te Hag and his staff.
“It is the players’ responsibility, first and foremost, the players know that as well,” said McTominay. "We have had many amazing players and right now we are at the stage where we have big characters in the dressing room. It's not just a case like some of the other managers, where it has been a little bit toxic at times. The boys are firmly behind the manager.
“I've said that in many other interviews and that is the way it will stay. We've got an amazing coaching staff as well, so it can get lost in translation, with what the players think and what is said behind closed doors. But we just want to do well for the football club.”
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Scott McTominay says United's players are together having not been in the past (PA)McTominay acknowledged United's inconsistency this season and said the players have held meetings about how to address their patchy form.
“Obviously we know the inconsistencies we've had, we are not naive to that,” said McTominay. “We have spoken about it as a group. The schedule is relentless, but we have to come together as a group and figure it out. The boys are doing their best to come together.
“As you can see in the Premier League, every team is super athletic, every team in the Champions League can run. We need to match that and more when you play for this club. The manager can’t do too much from the sidelines, it needs to come from the players. Sometimes the way we play has been amazing. When we play like we did against Chelsea, we can do amazing things.”
McTominay, United's top scorer in the Premier League this season with five goals, added: “That's the faith of the manager and you want to repay that as much as you can when you get on the pitch.
“You're going to have ups and downs as a football player, it's not always sunshine and rainbows.”