Man Utd ban journalists from presser ahead of Chelsea’s Old Trafford visit
Manchester United banned four journalists from Tuesday’s pre-match press conference ahead of their huge Premier League clash against Chelsea.
Representatives from broadcasters ESPN and Sky, as well as newspapers The Mirror and Manchester Evening, were all denied access to the presser following unconfirmed reports of a proposed dressing room revolt at the club.
United manager Erik ten Hag, who has faced multiple backlashes this season for his side’s poor start to the season, planned to preview Wednesday’s home game against Chelsea, but his relationship with his squad was the only subject matter discussed at the presser, with the Dutchman insisting “the team is together and focused on achieving a goal.”
“They should come to us first and not go around our back printing articles,” Ten Hag stated when asked about the banned journalists. “That’s not the right thing. I think we have not a relationship.
“And then they can, if they should give that to us beforehand, we have a normal and professional discussion and debate about it.
“Going back against Brentford, the Burnley game, the Fulham game. So every time the team is there, [they] showed great character, great determination, and resilience.
“So yeah, we are together. And you can see, you can’t play such football as we did lately if there is no unity,” the former Ajax manager added.
The Red Devils have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this season and Ten Hag have had to deal with a number of problems from within the club. When asked if they were any tensions or disorderliness in the dressing room, he said:
“Not in the dressing room. I don’t know what you… of course, there are a lot of rumours about a strategic review. But it’s not that we get distracted from the matters on the pitc,” he said.
“We are on the journey, on the route. We know we are still in transition, but we are in the wrong… or if we are in the right direction, you see it.
“Like how we construct a team, how we develop the team, how the team is progressing, how… young players [are] coming in. And you see the potential, how they can contribute to a very successful Manchester United for the future,” Ten Hag concluded.
The 13-time Premier League winners head into the tie against the Blues at Old Trafford sitting seventh in the standings after Saturday’s loss to Newcastle, their sixth in the league and tenth of the season.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a pleasant 4-1 win for Ten Hag’s side, and they would be hoping to get another favourable result in front of their home fans with the hopes of returning to winning ways.
