- Ten Hag’s team talk and instructions to players were reportedly audible
- Aston Villa have reportedly opened an investigation into the alleged incident
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Manchester United have reportedly suffered a major security breach after claims their dressing room was bugged by a prankster.
A prankster is said to have claimed he placed a hidden device in the Villa Park dressing room two days before Man United faced Aston Villa on October 6.
The sun reported that the device was used to record manager Erik ten Hag’s team conversations with his team.
According to the report, Ten Hag’s team conversations and instructions to players were audible in the recording.
Man United drew goalless with Aston Villa, leaving the Red Devils with their worst start to a Premier League season.
A device was reportedly hidden in Man United’s dressing room at Villa Park last Sunday
Man United boss Erik ten Hag’s team talk and instructions to players were reportedly audible
Aston Villa and Man United played a goalless draw before the international break
“This is a shocking breach of security and serious questions will be asked about how this happened,” a source was quoted by The Sun.
‘Thankfully there was nothing sinister about this incident. It was just a joker, who is actually a United fan, who was stupid and wanted to hear what was being said within those four walls.
“But it will certainly be a cause for concern in terms of how they managed to enter the dressing room of one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs just days before a match.”
It is alleged that the prankster activated the microphone by calling it from another taped device in a hidden location in the locker room.
The prankster is said to have come to pick up the device the next day.
Aston Villa have reportedly launched an investigation into the incident.
Ten Hag continues to put pressure on Man United with the draw at Villa Park leaving the Premier League giants with just eight points from their opening seven games.
The Red Devils had come into the match at Villa Park on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham and a chaotic 3-3 draw against Porto midway through the Europa League.
Ten Hag’s future is at stake after the club’s worst ever Premier League start
Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched the match ahead of a planned board meeting
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was among the Man United hierarchy present at the match, which preceded scheduled board meetings at the club this week.
The future of Ten Hag was among the topics discussed in Knightsbridge on Tuesday during a six-hour executive committee meeting.