Erik ten Hag says he will never get Manchester United playing like his old Ajax team after they were thrashed 3-0 by Manchester City in the first Manchester derby of the season

Erik ten Hag laid into his Manchester United flops after their mauling at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday.

Man United were humbled by City at Old Trafford

Erik ten Hag’s Ajax side reached the 2019 Champions League semi-final against all odds

The exasperated Dutchman insisted his team will never be as slick as his old Ajax side, who won three Eredivisie titles and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, and appeared to take a swipe at the quality within his squad after they were hammered 3-0 by their noisy neighbours at Old Trafford.

“We will never play that football,” he said after the game.

“Because those were different players. This is also not why I came here. We are playing different football than I showed at Ajax because I have to, because I can’t play the same way.”

The defeat to City was United’s fifth in the Premier League this season and their seventh in all competitions. Their chaotic on-field start has been mirrored by a rather turbulent few months off the pitch, with a long-running takeover saga, injury problems and player scandals dogging the early stages of the Red Devils’ campaign.

But even when the dust settles Ten Hag doesn’t think he’ll be able to get an Ajax-esque tune out of his players without dipping into the transfer market. Continuing, he said: “The players decide how you play.

“Ajax has a very typical and characteristic style of play, with Manchester United I will always show different football. I did so last year as well. We play much more direct football here because I have the players for that here.”

United fans on social medai didn’t take too kindly to his comments, with some concerned he might have “given up”.

One user wrote: “Really disappointing to hear this to be honest, he needs the sack. He first came saying he wasn’t going to sacrifice his style of play and he’s already given up.”

Another said: “He’s basically saying the players at United aren’t capable of passing the ball well like Ajax players did,”

While a third accused him of “throwing the team under the bus”.

A fourth added: “It’s over, he has totally lost the plot. The ‘United DNA’ got to him. It’s only a matter of time before he gets the sack now. He got more money than he has ever gotten at Ajax, he spent it on trash. Just return to Ajax man.”

Overall, Ten Hag’s first campaign in England proved to be successful. He guided the team to two domestic cup finals—one of which they won—and a top four finish despite a difficult start. However, this season’s stumble out of the blocks has cost him dearly, and if he doesn’t right the ship soon, there are rumors that he may be replaced.