Shearer aims thinly-veiled dig at Ten Hag for appearance on Dutch TV

• Erik ten Hag claimed he was treated ‘unfairly’ by pundits across last season
• The Man United boss appeared on TV in his homeland as a pundit for Euro 2024
• LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Chris Sutton reveals all on why he SLAPPED David Beckham 

Alan Shearer has hit out at Erik ten Hag after his appearance as a pundit on Dutch TV for Euro 2024. 

The Man United boss was on duty with broadcaster NOS for England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday and was outspoken with his views.

During his appearance, Ten Hag opened up on the last month, where his future at Old Trafford has been extremely uncertain, while he was also damning in his assessment of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

This came after the Dutchman had been forthright over pundits’ criticism of him during the season, while he also clashed with Shearer and Gary Lineker after the FA Cup final when he claimed the media treatment of himself and his team had been ‘unfair’.

And Shearer felt it was ironic that Ten Hag appeared on TV after his comments last month, while he also opened up on the wider speculation surrounding his future in recent weeks.

‘Away from the Euros it’s been confirmed that Erik Ten Hag will stay on as the manager of Manchester United,’ he told Betfair.

‘Considering he had a bit of a pop at pundits after the FA Cup final, it was really interesting to see him being a pundit himself on television recently. But what a mess it’s been.

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‘How kind of Man United to go to Ibiza and inform him that he’s still wanted as the manager, and then tell him that they’ve even spoken to other candidates.

‘It’s just a bizarre situation, it’s not how things should be done in football. If you are going to speak to other managers then speak to them, but keep it in house, you can’t let the public know.’

Speaking after the England game to NOS, Ten Hag had said: ‘England were playing very passive. I actually saw them moving backwards, they kept Serbia coming at them.

‘It’s the vision of the manager (Southgate). England will take a 1-0 lead, then he decides to start gambling with making his team compact and relying on moments for the remaining minutes of the game.’

More widely, Shearer also felt that Ten Hag’s position had been severely weakened by the past month despite the fact he is still in his role and in discussions over a new deal.

He added: ‘To be undermined like he has done, I know they’re now saying that he has their support and they want him to carry on, but from a personal and human point of view it’s not the right way to treat someone.

‘It takes a lot of his power away from him, will the players look at him and think he’s a really strong manager and he’s in a strong position?

‘Probably not because of the way they have treated him. It was meant to be all new at Old Trafford with the very best coming in, I don’t think they’ve got off to a good start.’