Gordon Strachan makes 'absolute nonsense' Glazers claim amid Man Utd and Erik ten Hag struggles

Former Manchester United man Gordon Strachan has defended the Glazers against 'absolute nonsense' claims that they are to blame for performances on the pitch this season. The Red Devils have put together a disappointing start to the season that has left them looking up at the top six.

Beyond that, the have also struggled in the Champions League, winning just one of their first three group stage games, also crashing out of the Carabao Cup. Erik ten Hag has come under real pressure over the last couple of weeks, with back-to-back 3-0 home defeats, to Manchester City and Newcastle United respectively, coming before a narrow win over Fulham over the weekend.

Amid struggles on the pitch, many have turned blame to the much-maligned Glazers amid a stalling takeover process, but former United midfielder Strachan is having none of it. "Blaming the Glazers for what is happening on the pitch, the lack of commitment from some players, is an absolute nonsense," he told Ice36.

"Not one of those players would be able to recognise the Glazers if they walked into the Manchester United dressing room. Do you think that any of these players said to their agents before they signed for £200,000 a week, “can we meet the owners please?” It’s nonsense. It’s nonsense to think that they (the Glazers) have any impact on the levels of performance these Manchester United players are putting in."

Speaking about Ten Hag's situation, he added: "There’s no way that Erik ten Hag can say in his press conference 'my team doesn’t have fighting spirit'. There is no way a manager could say that publicly. There was a young manager at St. Johnstone who said a couple of players won’t play for me again. The next day he was gone. You can’t criticise players like that in public.  

"Managers have to tell white lies every now and again because it suits the group. As a manager, you have to take the hit. You have to take the criticism. Especially if you’ve signed so many of the players – these are mainly his players now. The United board have bent over backwards to give him the players that he wanted and what are the club showing for it? Absolutely nothing. Manchester United’s performances this season haven’t been beyond average."