Rene Meulensteen believes Raphael Varane and Casemiro ‘can’t handle’ Erik ten Hag’s style of play at Manchester United

It has been a difficult season so far for Manchester United, with just four wins from their opening eight matches, which sees them sitting 10th in the Premier League table. It took two injury time goals to beat Brentford 2-1 on Saturday and see Erik ten Hag’s team clamber that high in the division, as they struggle for goals, defensive solidity and fluency.

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Raphael Varane and Casemiro ‘can’t handle’ the style of play Ten Hag is trying to implement at the club. Meulensteen, who was first team coach at Old Trafford under Alex Ferguson from 2007-13, feels the current players are not capable of the high energy, pressing style that Ten Hag wants to implement.

Rene Meulensteen’s View on Varane and Casemiro

The Belgian has picked out two of the biggest names in the squad as guilty of this, feeling that Varane and Casemiro can’t handle the pace required to succeed. ‘United have certain shortcomings. [Varane] cannot handle the pace,’ he told ESPN. ‘The Premier League is dynamic. Everything goes at 100 kilometres per hour. That is the big problem in midfield. They have no energy and that is how the defence gets into trouble.’

‘He [Ten Hag] wants to put a lot of pressure on, with a lot of intensity. Just like at Ajax. But he doesn’t have the players for that. The players don’t have the mentality to constantly put pressure on. Casemiro, for example, can’t handle it at all. Ten Hag has a certain conviction about how he wants to play. But he has to find ways to get there.’

Meulensteen Not Necessarily Sympathetic to Ten Hag

Meulensteen, who is now coaching with the Australia national team, is not necessarily sympathetic for Ten Hag’s cause though, as he feels that the Dutchman has largely got players he wanted at Old Trafford. ‘He has brought in all the players and cannot say that he has not been supported. He has indicated that he is happy with this,’ said Meulensteen.

‘He gets a lot of credit from the fans. I understand that. But these are not players who were brought in by the Glazers and are now on the field. The responsibility of the players who are now on the field Standing is really up to Erik. And that’s how it should be.’

Conclusion

It remains to be seen if Ten Hag can turn things around at Old Trafford and get his team playing the style of football he wants them to play. With Varane and Casemiro struggling to adapt to his system, it may be difficult for him to do so. For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.