Erik ten Hag has hit back at Jamie Carragher for his criticism of Manchester United's performance against Fulham, accusing the former Liverpool defender of having an agenda against the club.
Carragher provided a detailed analytical overview of United's shortcomings in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Fulham, which left the club eight points off the Champions League places ahead of a potentially season-defining week.
The former England centre-back and Telegraph Sport columnist questioned United's setup and form in and out of possession and the lack of compactness in the team in a scathing analysis of the match from Sky Sports. Monday night football alongside former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy.
But Ten Hag has hit back at Carragher by suggesting the former Champions League winner with Liverpool has not been objective in his criticism of United since he arrived. Carragher, for example, had questioned Lisandro Martinez's suitability for the Premier League after a poor performance in a 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022, Ten Hag's first game as United manager.
"First of all, some analysts are very objective in their commentary, very good advice, some are very subjective. Jamie Carragher is one of them," Ten Hag said ahead of United's FA Cup fifth round tie at Nottingham Forest.
"From the first moment he criticized and now he wants to make his point."
Ten Hag suggested that Carragher's criticism regarding United's first half against Fulham had some validity, when he occasionally questioned his own team's attitude but was unhappy with the overall assessment.
'Probably in the first half hour, yes, him [Carragher] had a point," said Ten Hag. "Fulham was a bit surprising in midfield [for us] and then we have to find the solutions.
"After half an hour we found the solutions. I was not satisfied with the performance, with the defending, especially on the left side - how we did the pressing, because, especially in the first half hour, they came out several times on the left side and that cannot happen and that has to with willingness, spirit, passion, that has been very good for this team in recent weeks and that is why we have won football matches.
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"I know footballers are not robots, sometimes they have bad days. But that's not possible, it's unacceptable. We have to do better tomorrow, but in the weeks before we did very well."
Ten Hag also criticized his United players for their poor game management in the 97th minute when Fulham had a throw-in at their own corner flag, from which they eventually scored a dramatic winner through Alex Iwobi.
"It can't happen if they have a throw-in in the corner, how we deal with that as a team is not good," he said.
Carragher wonders about Mainoo's role
Carragher had questioned the instructions given to Kobbie Mainoo by Ten Hag and United's coaching staff after highlighting problems almost immediately from kick-off.
"I want to highlight Mainoo, who has been fantastic since he came in, but the problem I have - it's not a criticism of him - what are his pre-match instructions?" Carragher told Sky Sports.
"This is straight from the kick-off. He's not sure whether to take out the holding midfielder or if he looks at the number 10, he gets caught, straight from the kick-off. You have to know your duties from the kick-off and that's it. " down to the technical staff.
"Twenty seconds into the game against Fulham, it has been the problem for Manchester United all season: there is space between the back four and the midfield.
"We look at why they are poor defensively and cannot handle counter-attacks: they have no pace at the back and a lack of legs in midfield.
"People say: 'There are no playing patterns at Manchester United, how do they play and what is the philosophy?' I will tell you why there are no playing patterns and why they are done with the counter-attack, the positions they are in.
"When [Raphael] Varane is on the ball, you have your right back, he can't receive a pass, Mainoo - your central midfielder - he's on the last line, that can't be right. It's not right.
"Bruno Fernandes, on the last line, plays as a striker, he is a number 10. Victor Lindelof cannot receive the ball, the players cannot receive the ball in the positions they choose.
"There is a huge problem for Manchester United when they have the ball... how often do you see players running 40 yards back to goal?"
Clichy echoed Carragher's criticism when he said: "The compactness of Manchester United is gone, a simple pass will take out maybe six United players and what you see is a four against three."
Carragher replied: "The most important thing in defending is to be compact, it won't go out of style."
Ten Hag said: "I brought Kobbie Mainoo with me [through to the first team] and everyone wonders. Now, after six weeks, the same people are saying he should play in the England team."
Ten Hag: 'Antony is unstoppable'
Ten Hag has defended Antony and backed United's £85m signing to find form. Antony was left out of the starting XI against Fulham, with Ten Hag opting to hand academy graduate Omari Forson his first start following an injury to Rasmus Hojlund. The Brazilian winger played under Ten Hag at Ajax, but has struggled to convince since his costly transfer to Old Trafford.
"I have supported him for a long time," said Ten Hag. "I know his capabilities, great capabilities, I know from the past that he is unstoppable, no defender can stop him because he is one of the fastest in the first ten meters.
"If he plays that game, I'm sure he will perform. He is resilient, he is a character and he will fight back and I support him. He now has to wait for his chance and when he gets there, he has to pick it up."
The FA Cup represents United's last realistic chance of success this season before Ten Hag's side face champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
