Gary Neville has pointed to Manchester United’s lack of a defined playing style as the primary factor behind Erik ten Hag’s sack.
United sit 14th in the Premier League with a winless Europa League campaign and Ten Hag’s final match was a 2-1 loss to West Ham.
According to Neville, United’s struggles stemmed from “a lack of identity and style” that remained unresolved since Ten Hag’s arrival.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville highlighted poor recruitment and inconsistency in performances as ongoing issues but emphasized that “lack of style has been the biggest problem.”
He noted that the 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham in September, which followed a similar loss to Liverpool, likely marked the beginning of the end for Ten Hag.
“I suspect the Tottenham game was a catalyst,” he said.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will serve as interim manager, though Neville cautions that significant changes are unlikely during his temporary tenure.
“He can set up the team differently,” Neville remarked, “but these players can perform better without any January transfers.”
Neville believes the club’s current squad is capable of much more, concluding that “the new manager should work with these players.”
