Brilliant Brahim & warrior Valverde secure narrow derby win

How PSG left Mbappe behind to build electrifiying attack

Gunners go goal crazy! Nwaneri shines as Arsenal score SEVEN

I could never hate you, Carlos Tevez

No wonder Bayern want Wirtz - he's the world's best No.10!

Editors' Picks

Where to watch & stream Wrexham games on TV & online

Man Utd live stream and TV channel broadcast info

How to watch & stream Birmingham City games on TV & online

Where to watch Lionel Messi games on TV & live stream

Where to watch & stream Liga MX games live

How to watch Ted Lasso: Everything you need to know

Complete PGA Tour 2025 schedule & results

Complete Formula E 2024-25 schedule 

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ten Hag was shown the door in October</li><li>Allegedly lost confidence of the dressing room</li><li>Hit out at players for getting offended too easily</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'Criticism gets to them' - Erik ten Hag reveals he had to be soft with Man Utd squad due to influence of social media making players less 'thick-skinned'

Europa League

Real Sociedad

Manchester United

Premier League

Crystal Palace

Ipswich

<p>Ten Hag, who spent 13 years as a professional footballer before shifting to management in 2012, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/erik-ten-hag-takes-subtle-swipe-cristiano-ronaldo-jadon-sancho-ex-man-utd-boss-laments-modern-players-finding-criticism-offensive-hints-new-career-away-from-football/blta094cc077820574c" target="_blank">shared his thoughts</a> on how the modern era has altered the mental toughness of players. Reflecting on his own experience, he suggested that the constant exposure to social media has made contemporary footballers more <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/erik-ten-hag-reveals-one-thing-he-misses-about-man-utd-former-boss-confirms-future-plans/blt3e453537820b44d4" target="_blank">sensitive to external opinions, especially criticism.</a></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Speaking on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3LTY9IMMuc" target="_blank"><em>SEG Stories</em></a>, Ten Hag said: "[You have to consider] the player's well-being. How does he deal with the media? How does he deal with fan reactions? How does he deal with social media in this world? All of that influences a player. Sometimes positively, sometimes negatively.</p><p>"This generation for example, they usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them. The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct with that generation. I was approached much more directly. If I was to do that with a current group of players I would demotivate them."</p>

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

<p>Further delving into the challenges of modern-day management, Ten Hag spoke about the difficulty of getting tactical points across to players in today’s fast-paced world. He highlighted how players' short attention spans, influenced by social media and quick-bite platforms like TikTok, have made traditional coaching methods more complicated.</p><p>"What did [Donald] Trump use in his election campaign? Mainly TikTok. That is how the current generation take in information," he argued.</p><p>"They have a very short attention span, and in that short attention span you need to deliver your message. But football is complex, and that is the biggest challenge for all of us. You can't tell in one or two minutes how you must play football tomorrow."</p><p></p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United was marked by inconsistency, and ultimately, that led to his dismissal in October. When he was let go, United sat in a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/time-finally-runs-out-for-erik-ten-hag-man-utd-set-to-sack-coach-nightmare-start/bltbc78659f6992704c" target="_blank">disappointing 14th place in the Premier League,</a> having secured just three wins in their first nine league matches of the season. While he brought some success to Old Trafford, winning two cup titles, his league performances fell short of expectations. </p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Ten Hag's successor Ruben Amorim has found himself in a similar situation. Despite taking over the reins at United, Amorim has struggled to improve the team’s fortunes. With only five wins from 16 league games, the club remains in 14th place, having lost eight times and drawn three. On Sunday, United will face Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup, a competition that provides the team with an opportunity to salvage something from a challenging season. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

'Criticism gets to them' - Erik ten Hag reveals he had to be soft with Man Utd squad due to influence of social media making players less 'thick-skinned' | Goal.com

Erik ten Hag revealed that he had to be soft with the Manchester United squad as he accused social media of making players less &quot;thick-skinned&quot;.

&apos;Criticism gets to them&apos; - Erik ten Hag reveals he had to be soft with Man Utd squad due to influence of social media making players less &apos;thick-skinned&apos;

Next matches