First Cristiano Ronaldo, then Jadon Sancho! Can Erik ten Hag handle ‘big stars’? Zlatan Ibrahimovic asks questions of Man Utd boss

The Dutch coach was appointed by the Red Devils back in 2022, as they sought stability on the pitch and in the dugout. Ten Hag’s debut campaign at Old Trafford did deliver Carabao Cup glory and a top-four finish, but it also brought an end to Ronaldo’s second spell in English football – as he was released on the back of an explosive interview in which he admitted to having no respect for United’s current boss.

Ibrahimovic, who worked under Jose Mourinho during his time in Manchester, has told Piers Morgan Uncensored of the issues being endured by a coach that is still adjusting to the demands of life under the brightest of spotlights: “Coming from Ajax to United as he did is a big difference. I have been in both clubs. You have a different kind of discipline. Ajax is a talented club. They have the best talents in the club. They don't have big stars. What is the experience of this coach? Young talents, he comes to United, it is a different mentality. The players there are supposed to be big stars. I don't think you give the same treatment. How much time do you give a coach? It depends on the owners, what they want, but if you listen to the fans, you don't have a lot of time because they want to win, and I understand them because they are used to winning and they want to still win.”

England international winger Sancho is another to have endured a falling-out with Ten Hag, as he finds himself out of the first-team picture at present, with Ibrahimovic struggling to put a finger on why supposed superstars are struggling to work with a manager still searching for a consistent winning formula. He added: “You need a plan, you need a project to follow. It feels like you follow a project plan and then it goes wild in a moment because of the results. Either you believe in it or you don't believe in it. But with the situation of the coach, I think he is living two different situations now. Then obviously what happened with Sancho and Cristiano, I don't know. When things are good, there are still errors and problems, but you don't see it because we are winning.”

United stumbled out of the blocks in 2023-24, leading to more questions being asked of prominent figures on and off the field, and they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out – which is hardly the best preparation for a Champions League clash with Galatasaray on Tuesday.