13 December 2023 , 20:07
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Erik ten Hag has been accused of blowing £400million on mediocre players in the wake of Manchester United's shambolic Champions League exit.
Former United defender Jaap Stam reckons Dutch compatriot Ten Hag has been guilty of paying inflated prices for average players who are not fit to wear the famous red shirt. United slunk out of the Champions League with just four points, their lowest-ever total, with 15 goals conceded - the most from a Premier League side in the competition's history.
Failure to make the knockout stage - or even qualify for the Europa League - could see Ten Hag's transfer budget next summer hit by as much as £30m. Ten Hag takes his crisis-hit side to arch rivals Liverpool on Sunday, fearing a repeat of last season's 7-0 mauling there, with up to 13 United players potentially unavailable.
Stam criticised Ten Hag's recruitment, in particular £82m winger Antony, who he claimed is simply not good enough to play for United. "If you want to play in a certain way, you look at players you've worked with in the past so they can help you out and Ten Hag has done that," said Stam told the Stick to Football podcast.
"But you need to be careful because you need to look at the league you’re in and where you’re going to and if they can bring the same level. With the players that have come in, a lot are struggling to bring that level.
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“It’s not only about technical ability, it’s about physique and you need to have legs to run up and down the pitch and you need to be clever. The whole package needs to be there if you want to perform and get to a certain level.
Erik ten Hag needs to turn Manchester United's fortunes around sooner rather than later (Getty Images)Do you agree with Jaap Stam? Let us know in the comments below!
"Looking at the players at United now, it’s hard to find within the whole squad players that you think are going to make it to the highest level. From what I’ve seen from Antony, he’s not good enough for this level that we’re looking for at United.
"I was surprised by his fee. You don’t see where he can make the progress to make the next step in the Premier League to be up there with the top wingers who can make a difference. In Holland he did okay, but it wasn’t like he was the best player.
"He did okay for Ajax but then again, they’re playing in a league with a couple of good players, and the rest of the league are mediocre players."