Erik ten Hag needs to LEAVE Man United, insists club legend Jaap Stam, who believes the Red Devils boss must ‘look at himself’ over his claims his side play good football

Manchester United icon Jaap Stam believes Erik ten Hag should leave the club before he can pass a damning judgement on the Dutchman’s playing style as manager of the Red Devils.

After finishing third in his debut season at Old Trafford, Ten Hag began last season with ambitions to continue his growing success at the club.

However, the season would ultimately prove to be a mixed one for United, with off-field incidents involving the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, combined with a lack of consistency on the pitch.

The club won just one Champions League match, finishing bottom of the group for the first time in almost two decades, and also finished worst ever in the Premier League as its defence was severely depleted by injuries.

Ten Hag won the FA Cup, saving him from being sacked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He was given another chance to shape the team in his own image, although his dull style of play failed to impress.

Jaap Stam (left) has called on Erik ten Hag (right) to leave Man United on the eve of the new Premier League season

Stam is not convinced by Ten Hag and has criticised his playing style at United

And on the eve of the new Premier League season, which will see United kick off the new campaign with a clash with Fulham on Friday, Stam told Simon Jordan on his Willem Heuvel podcast ‘Up Front with Simon Jordan’, that his compatriot is to leave the club – despite only signing a new one-year extension last month.

Stam told Jordan: ‘For Ten Hag, this is his third season at United – I think he should go. I think it’s good that he’s signed a new contract because he still needs that bit of help.

“He needs to look at himself and how the last season went. I don’t always agree with him that they played good football.

‘I understand that as a manager you have to be positive about your players and help them by taking some of the pressure off them. Having said that, it is also good as a manager to just be honest and say that your team played terrible football.

“He needs to take a step forward this season. There have been a lot of changes in the club’s staff, so I’m curious to see how that will work out for them.”

Stam also stressed that it is no surprise that two Dutch managers have been given top jobs at two Premier League giants.

Stam said: ‘It doesn’t surprise me that Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot are coaching two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League. You just have to look at their performances in the Netherlands.

Ten Hag signed a one-year contract extension last month after winning the FA Cup

Stam (left) told Simon Jordan (right) that Ten Hag must now take a step forward and improve the team

‘Granted, in the Eredivisie you have Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven as big clubs, and the rest of the teams in the league are not comparable. Even those top three teams would have a hard time in the Premier League.

‘I think both managers have a great philosophy about playing with their dominance and attacking.

‘Slot did it at Feyenoord, with some good investments and good players and has now done the same at two teams in the Netherlands. I think he made the right move by going to Liverpool, but can he do it there?’