Erik ten Hag has ‘lost the players’, insists Paul Merson, as he claims the Man United boss is under ‘serious pressure’ amid ‘toxic’ performances

• Manchester United were beaten 3-0 at home by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup 
• Paul Merson claimed the performance showed Erik ten Hag had lost the players 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

Paul Merson has claimed Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has ‘lost the players’ after the Red Devils suffered another heavy home defeat.

Ten Hag’s side saw their Carabao Cup defence come to an abrupt end on Wednesday night, after falling to a 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle.

Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall gave the visitors a 2-0 first half lead, with Joe Willock sealing victory for the Magpies in the second half.

The dismal result followed Man United suffering a 3-0 loss in front of their own fans in the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson insisted the nature of the defeats showed Man United’s squad have stopped playing for Ten Hag.

Paul Merson has claimed Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has lost his players support

Merson made the comments following Man United’s heavy 3-0 defeat against Newcastle

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The former Arsenal midfielder claimed the Dutchman is under serious pressure and compared the cost of removing him from the role to the financial impact of Jadon Sancho’s continue exile from the first team.

Sancho has been training on his own since publicly branding the United manager a liar over his reasons for dropping him for the 3-1 away defeat by Arsenal.

‘I don’t see how much further this goes on, I really don’t, I read in the paper it could cost £15m,’ Merson said.

‘It just cost them £80m in Sancho, they chased a kid for how long and he says one thing and is completely out and will probably be out on loan in January and they’ll probably be paying half his wages.

‘This needs to get sorted out but personally I think it is toxic, I don’t take too much notice of behind the scenes, but it is toxic on the pitch and that is where it counts.

‘At the moment they are all over the place and if it wasn’t for a last minute penalty save against Copenhagen, they would have drawn at home to Copenhagen, let’s get serious here.

Merson insisted Ten Hag is under serious pressure after consecutive 3-0 defeats at home

‘He is under serious pressure and they have to have a meeting and see what they are going to do. There are ways of losing football matches and, for me, he has lost the players.

‘You do not started getting beaten the way they are getting beaten, there are ways of losing and this is not good in my opinion.’

Man United will see to bounce back from their successive defeat when they travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Red Devils will start the match in ninth place in the Premier League, eight points adrift of the Champions League places. 

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