I am absolutely sure that Erik ten Hag ensures a fair and completely equal distribution of skimmed milk to his children at the breakfast table. When the Dutch rule-rider took over as manager of Manchester United after success for Ajax, Sporten.com were quick to point out that this was the wrong man in the wrong place.
Frederico Rodrigues de Paula joined Manchester United from FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018 for €57 million and stayed until he was finished five years later.
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It went as it should with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, but it took far too long before he was fired.
Fred doesn’t hold back and slaughtered his old boss: “Was an asshole”
Erik ten Hag managed Manchester United for just over two years. His relationship with Fred did not go smoothly.
“He argued with everyone,” he says in the podcast Charla.
Brazilian midfielder Fred spent five years at United, playing part of the time under Erik ten Hag.
In the podcast Charla, Fred gives his picture of his time under the Dutch manager.
“Ten Hag was tactically very good, but with the group he was an asshole,” he says and continues:
“He argued with everybody. He argued with me, with Cristiano Ronaldo, with Casemiro, with Rashford.
Furthermore, he believes that ten Hag had a fondness for his countrymen.
“He didn’t let me play. But for him, only his Dutch players were going to play. A coach who favoured a certain group, but tactically one of the best I’ve ever worked with.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021, but it was only a short stay at the club. That was largely due to his relationship with ten Hag, according to Fred.
“He wanted the team to run a lot, but Cristiano was already older. He benched Cristiano, and then it cut between them
Sad that the low point for icon Cristiano Ronaldo came in Oslo
Erik ten Hag was fired in 2024 and is now the technical director of FC Twente after a short spell at Bayer Leverkusen. Fred belongs to Atlético Mineiro in the Brazilian top division.
Brazilian Fred has anything but good memories with Erik ten Hag as Manchester United coach
Brazilian Fred was brought to Manchester United on José Mourinho’s watch. Six months after his signing, the Portuguese was kicked out of Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lifted United, but was fired himself in 2021. Fred had a brief meeting with self-proclaimed football professor Ralf Rangnick, before Erik ten Hag was brought in to the Red Devils.
Fred reminisces about his time, but has few good memories with Ten Hag on the sidelines.
Manchester United finished third in the Dutchman’s first season, but then results in the Premier League started to fall.
“Ten Hag was very good tactically, but as a person in the group he was an asshole. He argued with everybody. He argued with me, with Cristiano Ronaldo, with Casemiro, with Rashford… He wouldn’t put me in, and sometimes it got stressful
Erik ten Hag – the road so far
Early career
Erik ten Hag started his coaching career in his native Netherlands, including as an assistant at Twente and then head coach of Go Ahead Eagles, before taking over FC Utrecht in 2015. There, he quickly built a reputation as a tactically skilled and detail-oriented coach.
Ajax (2017–2022)
His breakthrough came at Ajax, where he was brought in in December 2017. He led the club to several titles and made Ajax a feared team in Europe. The highlight came in the 2018/19 season, when Ajax knocked out both Real Madrid and Juventus on their way to the semi-finals of the Champions League. He also won the Eredivisie several times and became known for his offensive and structured style of play.
Manchester United (2022–2024)
In 2022, he was brought to Manchester United to rebuild the club. The first season ended with third place in the Premier League, a League Cup title and a place in the final of the FA Cup. The following season became heavier: results failed, internal conflicts increased – including with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho – and he was sacked in the autumn of 2024 after a poor start to the season.
After United
Ten Hag had a short spell at Bayer Leverkusen before being hired as technical director at FC Twente, the club where he started his coaching career in 2026.
