Erik ten Hag has message for thin-skinned players after Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho clashes | OneFootball

The sacked Manchester United manager endured tense relationships during his time in charge

Not friends: Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo

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Erik ten Hag says footballers today struggle to deal with criticism, with the current generation having thinner skin compared to the one he grew up in.

Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United in October, bringing to an end a little over two years at Old Trafford which brought two domestic trophies but also plenty of record-breakingly bad runs of form and some high-profile cases of his players expressing unhappiness at their treatment.

Cristiano Ronaldo said of Ten Hag that he "didn't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me" in an explosive interview that led to the Portuguese's exit from the club in 2022.

Ten Hag told SEG Stories: "This generation usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them.

"The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct with that generation. I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players, I would demotivate them."

He added: "With this generation, you choose different words and a different approach. (Sir Alex) Ferguson also belonged to the previous generation. With that generation, you could be much more direct in your communication and approach.

"With this generation, you have to convey your message in a more tactful way to get the same effect. You have to show the player more love. Our generation found that much more difficult to do than this generation.”

Ten Hag, who took charge at United in the summer of 2022 and oversaw the team winning the League Cup and FA Cup, also said he enjoyed his stint with the club "very much", that he felt "appreciated" by the fans, and that he is "not doing anything until July 1" with regard to a return to management.