'Imagine': Patrice Evra texts Sir Alex Ferguson about Erik ten Hag's biggest flaw and his response was revealing
Sir Alex Ferguson would have fined Manchester United players one month's wages if his team had played like Erik ten Hag did.
That is according to Patrice Evrawho revealed the conversation between him and his former coach during the Tottenham game after the dismissal of Ten Hag.
The Dutchman was fired from his position on Monday and talkSPORT understands that Man United have already made a verbal agreement with his substitute.
Ten Hag won just one of his last eight games in charge, which included a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham at the end of September.
Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke all found the net, while captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off in the first half to sum up a miserable day at Old Trafford.
Now former Man United star Evra has detailed the Scot's response to the first-half display.
He told his former teammate Rio Ferdinand FIVE Podcast: “In the first half against Tottenham I sent a text message Sir Alex Ferguson. I said 'boss, imagine we didn't push for 45 minutes? What are you going to do?'
“He told me: 'I'm going to fine you with at least one month's salary.'”
However, instead of putting all the blame on Ten Hag for Man United's slide down the Premier League table in the last two seasons, Evra cited coaches dealing with a new generation of footballers.
But he also doesn't blame the players for their different approach.
He continued: “But that's why it's difficult and sometimes I tell Rio in the WhatsApp group. 'Rio, you're wasting your time because this is the TikTok generation, we don't have the same value.'
“We were footballers, we eat and sleep football. Now they are athletes, they are brands, they are politicians.
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“It's too much of a distraction and I don't blame them. That's why when I see (Roy) Keano and people being hard on them.
“This is society.”
Even though the writing was probably on the wall for Ten Hag for some time before their 2-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday, some of the Man United players thanked him for the job he had done on social media.
Winger Alejandro Garnacho said: “Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity and confidence to play for this club.
“It hasn't gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and wish you all the best in the future.”
Meanwhile, Rasmus Hojlund, who joined the club for £72m last summer, wrote: “Thanks for everything boss. I wish you all the best in the future.”
Ruud van Nistlerooy will take interim charge of Man United, with his first game in charge being Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash against Leicester City.
