Erik ten Hag has lifted the lid on the difficulties of dealing with modern footballers in his first interview since his Manchester United sacking.
The Dutchman’s reign yielded two trophies, including an FA Cup final win over Manchester City at Wembley but, ultimately, he failed to meet the targets he was set.
Silverware papered over the cracks that his successor, Ruben Amorim, is struggling to deal with as a disjointed squad continues its slump towards a likely bottom half of the table Premier League finish.
Ten Hag’s tenure was punctuated by regular spats with high-profile members of his dressing room with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho all guilty of disciplinary transgressions.
Former Ajax boss Ten Hag was accused of being too heavy handed with certain individuals during his time at Old Trafford but the 55-year-old maintains that players, regardless of age, should be able to deal with negative feedback.
Speaking to SEG Stories, Ten Hag said: ‘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.
‘I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players I would demotivate them.
‘If you do that to the current generation they find it offensive.’
While Ten Hag failed to live up to expectations he did uphold one of the club’s proudest traditions by continually giving young players the chance to thrive in the first team, including the likes of Kobbie Mainoo.
Indeed, the affinity he built up with the teenager England international midfielder suggests Raphael Varane was wide of the mark when he suggested the players were surprised when Ten Hag was awarded a new contract last summer.
‘With this generation you choose different words and a different approach,’ Ten Hag added.
‘(Sir Alex) Ferguson also belonged to the previous generation. With that generation you could be much more direct in your communication and approach.
‘A player of this generation will feel ridiculed if you approach them like that.’