Erik ten Hag leaves Euro 2024 pundit fuming after shock Gareth Southgate comment

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards launched a stinging critique of Erik ten Hag, claiming that the Manchester United boss exhibited a "lack of respect" towards England and national team manager Gareth Southgate.

ITV Euro 2024 pundit Richards, alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer on their 'The Rest is Football' podcast, pulled apart ten Hag's comments about the Three Lions' recent 1-0 victory over Serbia. Lineker introduced the issue to his co-hosts, quoting ten Hag's opinion directly: "He basically said England were really good, got a goal up and then Southgate decided that, as he always does, he wants to sit and be defensive, and it was really strong words."

Lineker, once a star striker for Leicester City, also dived deeper into ten Hag's viewpoint highlighting the contentious parts, Ten Hag was quoted as saying: "'After a while England were playing very passive, I actually saw them moving backwards, they kept Serbia coming at them it's the vision of the manager. England take a 1-0 lead then he decides to start gambling with making his team compact, relying on moments for the remaining minutes of the game."

This compounded a sense of disrespect felt by Richards, prompting him to make a "glass houses" comment in response to the Dutch coach's analysis of England's performance.

Feeling clearly ruffled, Richards offered a passionate response, saying: "So now he's being a pundit talking about how managers are playing in a negative fashion when we talked about Man United and how they've not had a good season because where they're finished in the league, he bites at us. It's ridiculous. We've backed him so many times and said the way he's been treated has not been great and now he's talking about other managers, it's a lack of respect."

Lineker then asked: "Has he (Ten Hag) got a point though?" Richards interjected: "He's got a great point – but that's irrelevant of the facts", which caused fits of laughter amongst the trio. The mini spat being reignited came after Lineker and Shearer had interviewed Ten Hag pitchside after United's FA Cup victory over Man City.

This throwback to their previous tiff comes after Lineker and Shearer interviewed Ten Hag pitchside following United's triumphant FA Cup victory against Man City.

Recalling these tensions in an older The Rest is Football podcast episode, Lineker shared with Shearer that "people took a bit of umbrage" at their probing. Sharing further perspective on events, the former Everton striker threw light on Ten Hag's demeanour stating, "He (Ten Hag) came over and he didn't seem delighted from the onset. I suspect he also had a bone to pick with Roy Keane, it seemed like he'd decided on a course when he made his way over."

"I asked the question, 'Do you think you've been unfairly treated by pundits, and even us? ' Obviously, it's our job to be critical on occasion, we have to say what we think. And then he replied saying 'definitely', and then you (talking to Shearer) challenged him didn't you? ".

Shearer promptly responded, "Yeah. He's entitled to have a pop back because he's been criticised at times and I think rightly so, because his team have been miles off it. They've been poor. So for all of those things we've had to criticise them this season. If we didn't we wouldn't be doing our job. But he's entitled to have the hump with people who he feels are being unfair, but I felt I was well within my rights [to say what I said]."

Former Blackburn striker Shearer didn't hesitate in reaffirming his critique of United's season under the Dutch manager, saying: "They've had a disastrous season in terms of the league. I don't think any Man Utd fan would argue that. To finish eighth, to finish with the number of goals they've conceded, shots against, it's embarrassing."

During the FA Cup final interview, Ten Hag refused to shy away from Lineker and Shearer's probing questions. The Dutchman advised them to remain 'more calm' when discussing his team, claiming: "You are very good here in England to push players and managers very high, and then you hammer them when they have one or two bad performances," Ten Hag countered.

"I think you should be more calm."

The conversation with Lineker concluded on a tense note when he questioned Ten Hag if this was his final match managing United. The BBC football anchor then ended the chat with: "We hope to see you next season."

Despite, Ten Hag is still projected to keep his position at United and may even sign a new contract shortly.