In the midst of reports detailing unrest within Carrington, Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, openly acknowledged that “one or two" players had raised concerns about his strategic approach after the team"s criticized 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United.
🔴 Erik Ten Hag: "I listen always to my players, I give them always opportunities to tell — if the players have a different opinion of course I will listen".
"Maybe one or two [have told me], but it is about in general, the majority want to play like this proactive, dynamic… pic.twitter.com/9dh0JgzPvh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 5, 2023
Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid manager, surfaced in discussions regarding a potential role at Old Trafford should Ten Hag face dismissal. This prospect, however, drew scrutiny from Brazil legend Rivaldo, who had once expressed reservations about Zidane"s managerial style.
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In a reflective piece from 2021 on his Betfair column, Rivaldo praised then-Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman for his adept management of young talents, drawing a sharp contrast with Zidane"s perceived tendency to place excessive pressure on emerging players.
“I have always said that the key to managing young talents is not to put too much pressure on them, and I think [Ronald] Koeman is doing well, bringing the kids together with [Sergio] Busquets, [Lionel] Messi and Jordi Alba. Koeman deserves to be congratulated and respected for that management"
Rivaldo then specifically highlighted Zidane"s handling of promising talents like Fede Valverde, Rodrygo, and Vinicius Junior, expressing concerns about punitive measures for non-football-related issues.
“I don"t know who will be behind all this, but [Zinedine] Zidane is doing the opposite of what he did when he started using young talents like [Fede] Valverde, Rodrygo [Goes] or Vinicius [Junior]. I read this week that it could be a punishment because Vinicius would have looked at his mobile phone during a Zidane talk."
Rivaldo emphasized the significance of resolving such matters without sidelining key players, advocating for imposing fines over exclusion to ensure the team"s continued strength and cohesion.
“Those things do not have to be solved by leaving a footballer without playing, because then you are hurting your own team and Zidane himself. It would mean dropping a footballer who could be crucial in many games. That is usually resolved with a fine."
In Real Madrid"s managerial history, the 48-year-old Frenchman stands out as a notable figure. His tenure was marked by remarkable achievements, including the acquisition of three Champions League trophies, two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups, and two LaLiga titles.
