- Reporters from Sky Sports, The Mirror, the MEN and ESPN are banned
- Several reports this week say United stars are losing confidence in Ten Hag
- United is like a rotten window frame that you paint over to make it look better, but the problem is still there – It all starts
Manchester United banned a series of high-profile journalists from attending Erik ten Hag's press conference on Tuesday.
Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solekhol, Manchester Evening News chief correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, The Mirror's David McDonnell and ESPN's Rob Dawson have all been ruled out of this afternoon's press conference.
The order comes from Andrew Ward, United's communications director, following their media reporting of the club's dismal start to the new season.
United confirmed that the club “has taken action against several news organizations, not because they published stories we don't like, but because they did so without contacting us first to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or to contextualize'.
“We believe this is an important principle to defend and we hope this can lead to a reset in the way we work together,” the club added.
Several major news channels have been banned from attending Erik ten Hag's press conference
Neither Kaveh Solhekol (left) of Sky Sports nor Samuel Luckhurst, United's chief correspondent for the MEN, will attend Tuesday's press conference
ESPN's Rob Dawson is among other journalists banned by United for their reporting
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It is not clear whether the ban only applies to today's press conference, where Ten Hag will address the media at 12 noon, or to all future briefings with the manager until further notice.
According to the MEN, Ward, who joined the club in 2019, has previously stopped reporters from asking questions to Ten Hag due to perceived negative reporting.
Several newspapers have reported this week that United's stars are losing faith in Ten Hag, amid the club's dismal performance so far this season.
United have already lost 10 games despite spending over £180 million during the summer transfer window, although they have suffered injuries to several key players.
The MEN reported on Tuesday that several senior players have been shocked by the quality of the Dutch manager's signings, including £72m Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, £60m Mason Mount and Antony, who joined from Ajax for £82m. They insist the story was “well sourced.”
The newspaper also said Ten Hag was forced to drop his favorite phrase “didn't follow the rules,” which he often uses at post-match press conferences to describe his team's performance.
Ten Hag are under renewed scrutiny after Saturday's dismal performance at Newcastle, where they suffered their 10th defeat of the season and faced a dressing room row.
The 53-year-old is desperate to bounce back from Newcastle's defeat at home to Chelsea on Wednesday and Bournemouth on Saturday, amid growing unrest in the camp, although United fans are still behind the manager and plan to throw their support behind him express him when they host the Blues tomorrow night.
The ban was imposed by United's communications director, Andrew Ward
A number of seniors would question Ten Hag's approach and tactics. Some think they have to train too hard this season, while others think the manager is too authoritarian.
However, Mail Sport's Chris Sutton believes United's ongoing malaise is 'much bigger' than the manager's.
“He's got players in the dressing room who are snakes as far as I'm concerned,” Sutton said on Mail Sport's It's All Kicking Off podcast.
United have previously tried to block reporters from their press conferences.
Last month, another newspaper was unable to send reporters to a briefing with Ten Hag after writing that the manager was 'on thin ice'.
An infamous example occurred in 2011, when former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was caught telling a press officer to ban then Associated Press journalist Rob Harris after he asked a question about Ryan Giggs.