Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has hit back at his former backroom staff Benni Mccarthy after making comments about him lacking passion.
McCarthy was with Ten Hag at the Theatre of Dreams for two seasons as a striker coach after he was roped in by the former Ajax Amsterdam mentor. McCarthy saw his contracted not renewed at United after it expired, with club legend Ruud Van Nistelrooy roped into his place.
The former Bafana Bafana striker had an interview with ZEROZERO where he praised his former colleague Ten Hag and mentioned where he thinks he should improve.
“In modern football, I believe that players want to see a bit more passion in their coach,” the former Porto striker was quoted as saying.
“They need to feel that the coach is with them and willing to fight alongside them.
“Tactically, I feel that Erik is at the top. He lacks a bit of that fire, that passion. That’s where we differ, him and I.”
Ten Hag defended himself from McCarthy’s comments in an interview with TNT Sport just before their Europa League clash against FC Porto, saying you cannot win eight trophies without fire and passion.
“I don’t know what he means. In the last six years I’ve won eight trophies. I don’t think you can do that without passion and fire,” Ten Hag told TNT Sports via Express.
“I always motivate my team. When you win trophies, you can’t do this without passion and desire.
“Everyone is different. But I don’t know if it’s taken out of context, if it’s real what he said, because I know him as a different person.”
