Former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce has expressed his belief that manager Erik ten Hag needs to change his approach to the transfer market. Bruce argues that United need to find more robust players to strengthen their squad.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Bruce stated, “You have to defend yourself. You take a lot of things on the chin but there are occasions to come out swinging. You can’t just sit there and be a punchbag all the time. You are under the spotlight at Man U like no other club. It’s pages of newspaper coverage, every TV and radio station. To be fair to the manager, he has not thrown in the towel.”
Bruce also highlighted the need for players to deal with criticism and improve their performances. He pointed out that Casemiro was exposed playing out of position in a recent match and emphasized the importance of having people around younger players who will give them honest feedback.
Regarding recruitment, Bruce mentioned Jim Ratcliffe’s priority for Newcastle and compared it to United’s spending. He questioned the value for money United have received from signing 18 players for £50 million or more. Bruce praised Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to buy players who served the club for years and stressed the significance of longevity in recruitment.
Bruce also raised concerns about the fitness of United’s players, particularly the high number of different pairings at the back due to injuries. He highlighted the absence of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, as well as the availability issues with Raphael Varane.
In conclusion, Bruce’s comments suggest that he believes Ten Hag needs to adapt his approach in the transfer market, United need more robust players, and the manager should address the team’s fitness issues.
