Ex-Man Utd, Lazio and AC Milan defender slams Antony and reveals Erik ten Hag verdict

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has been speaking about all things United - and admits he is worried for boss Erik ten Hag.

United crashed out of the Champions League and Europe following the midweek 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, just days after the Premier League loss to Bournemouth. And with pressure mounting and a trip to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool, there is no respite.

In a wide-ranging interview, Jaap Stam speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, has revealed his thoughts on Ten Hag, some of the squad members and his own managerial ambitions.

Jaap Stam on Erik ten Hag

“He [Erik ten Hag] has got to be worried and thinking about what’s going to happen now because you can ban players. But it’s also about man management of course and how to work with and handle players.

“There was the [Cristiano] Ronaldo thing, the [Jadon] Sancho thing, Raphaël Varane probably – I don’t know if something’s happened over there. There’s the thing with the press now and banning journalists from press conferences. It doesn’t work in your favour as a manager.

“You need to have peace and quiet… you don’t want to pay too much attention to other things like players and the press. You need to fully focus, and I don’t think you want to talk about players or what players think about you as a manager.

“I worry a little bit for him and that’s why it would be good if he gets the results. The first season [at Manchester United], Erik ten Hag did very well in terms of getting a trophy, [into a] final and a Champions League spot. Not about his way of playing, even in the first season, because it’s more from transition.

 “It’s not what we know Ten Hag wants to play. Possession-based, a lot of movement, going forwards, dominating in the opposition’s half. They [Manchester United] haven’t done that. First season [was good]. Second season, is he going to make progress with that team? You’re hoping that by getting players in, [he’ll] make progress in his way of playing, still hopefully getting the results, but at least see more of his style of play in what he’s been doing in Holland and in the Champions League with Ajax.”

Jaap Stam slams Antony

“From what I’ve seen from Antony, he’s not good enough for this level that we’re looking for at United. Because you’re also looking for a player who can have a difficult time and struggle when he comes in, but [we can see] where he is making progress to get to that level.

“When you’re looking at Antony now, at this moment, you don’t see where he can make the progress to make the next step in the Premier League to be up there with the top wingers who can make a difference.

“In Holland, he did okay but it wasn’t like he was the best player in Holland. He did okay for Ajax but then again, they’re playing in a league with a couple of good players, and the rest of the league - with all respect – are mediocre players. They’re [Ajax] always dominating so he could always do his trickery, put the crosses in and play a one-two. But at this level - and that’s down to recruitment together with the management – they need to make the right choices to bring the players in who can really make a difference in the Premier League. I was surprised by Antony’s fee."

Jaap Stam on his managerial ambitions

“I enjoy the media stuff – I’m doing a lot of TV work in Holland. I want to go back into management, but it depends on the team, more or less, depends on the club, the people. The project – everybody’s talking about this project now. It really depends on the people you need to work with, because I had a couple of jobs in Holland – Feyenoord – and I went to America as well.

“In the beginning they [owners] are saying, ‘we’re going to do this, and we’ll back you and bring the right players in, bring in the type of players that you want to work with’ and at the end of the day, they do their own stuff. Then, as a manager, you need to work with these players and you’re thinking, ‘in how you want to play, in the philosophy of your style, your project, you can’t do it’. That makes a difference – you need to change as a manager, or you need to set up the team differently as well, and then, you don't really enjoy it.”

Jaap Stam was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.