Schmeichel Says Ten Hag Is Stirring the Pot Over Kane and Rice

• Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said on The Overlap Daily that Erik ten Hag should not have gone public about wanting Harry Kane and Declan Rice, per Daily Mail Sport.
• Ten Hag said in an interview last week that he pleaded with United to buy both players, and criticised the hierarchy for contributing to a “toxic culture”.
• United sit 16th, one point clear of the relegation zone, and have gone eight matches without a win in all competitions.

Schmeichel Wants Ten Hag to Look at His Own Record Before Naming Names

“How dare he go out and say that.” Peter Schmeichel was blunt on The Overlap Daily. The former United goalkeeper was talking about Erik ten Hag, who said in an interview that he had wanted Declan Rice and Harry Kane at Old Trafford. Schmeichel pointed to the players Ten Hag signed who are still in the squad, then asked why a manager who “wasn’t a success” feels the need to speak at all. His comments landed as United confirmed that Michael Carrick stays in charge with the club 16th.

What Ten Hag said

The Dutchman joined United at the end of the 2021-22 season and was sacked in October 2024 with the team 14th in the Premier League. His interview last week ranged widely. He criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for “letting the team down” and hit out at the club’s hierarchy for contributing to a “toxic culture”. He also revealed that he pleaded with United to buy Kane and Rice.

The Rice part has a detail. In his first summer at the club, a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong fell through and Ten Hag asked about signing Rice. West Ham did not want to sell their captain. He said: “I think we could have done more to test. They tried but I don’t know how the process went.”

Schmeichel’s answer

Schmeichel started with what annoyed him most. “What really annoys me in everything that has happened in the past two weeks is Ten Hag coming out and saying that he wanted Declan Rice and Harry Kane, like he was a god,” he said.

He called it ridiculous and listed names. Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt both arrived under Ten Hag, and both are still at United. On the two targets, Schmeichel gave no ground: “Everybody knew we should sign Harry Kane. Everyone knows we should have signed Declan Rice, that’s no secret. I don’t know why we didn’t do that.”

His complaint was about who is talking. People should “keep calm and not talk”, he said, and perhaps speak about what they did for the club themselves, or what they did not do. Schmeichel said Ten Hag’s message is that the club let him down. He allowed that there could be some truth in that, but his verdict was that Ten Hag “wasn’t good enough”. Then he turned to Leverkusen, where Ten Hag took over a team that had just won the Bundesliga and was sacked “within, what, three games?”

Schmeichel finished with a plea. He asked Ten Hag to take a step back, so that he is not pushed into criticising him. “We don’t need it in the narrative,” he said.

Carrick Faces Chelsea With United One Point Above the Drop

His future was in doubt after an eighth-placed league finish, but an FA Cup final win over Manchester City contributed to United giving him an extension after crunch talks in Ibiza. He went on to replace Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen the following season, was sacked after three games and criticised the club’s board over the decision.

Michael Carrick now holds the job. United confirmed that the 45-year-old stays in charge for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, with the club 16th and one point above the drop. The interviews from captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Martinez added to the strain. Gary Neville called the squad “unprofessional” after the weekend defeat to Bournemouth and said on his podcast: “They’ve conned him.”

Carrick needs a response at Stamford Bridge. The last time his players collected three points was against Ipswich at the end of August. Schmeichel wants Ten Hag to stay calm and stay quiet while the club works through that run.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

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