Erik ten Hag reveals secret reason behind Man United press conference bans

In his interview with ex-United captain Gary Neville Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to ban certain media outlets from his press conferences.

Since joining Manchester United nearly two years ago Erik ten Hag has had many run-ins with the British press.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bombshell interview with Piers Morgan as well as the fallout from the situation with Jadon Sancho has led the Dutchman to ban journalists from his pre-match press conferences multiple times.

The Manchester Evening News, The Mirror and The Sun were banned from asking questions ahead of The Reds’ Premier League clash against Burnley last weekend as a consequence of their “embarrassing” reaction to the club’s FA Cup semi-final victory against Coventry City.

Ahead of his side’s trip to London as they face Crystal Palace on Monday, Ten Hag has spoken to Sky Sports pundit and former United captain Gary Neville.

The pair talked about a variety of subjects including United’s pursuit of the former Tottenham and now Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and inevitably spoke about Ten Hag’s relationship with the press in which he said:

“I have to defend the team against some unfairness [in recent press conferences]. We can accept this, we know the standards and in the first place, we are not happy with the season, but we know we can win a cup this season so stay positive.

“Everything is judged negative but in our attacking game, we improved over the course of the season. Some young players are improving a lot and that is then unfair to say that everything is bad.

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“Also, the young players need time to get to their best levels, but they have the potential that they show this season, and that is the positive.

“Now, we need a consistent team and when we have that, we are confident we can bring in more wins.”

Consistency is certainly something that United have struggled with as they have been plagued with injury which has led the boss to previously say that he has never been able to pick his best side.

Despite this, the club still have positives to aim for which the manager is eager to concentrate on.

“We have two opportunities. First of all, we have to defend our position in the league so that is one focus point. The second, of course, we go twice in two years to the FA Cup final, which is a great opportunity to win a cup again.

“Manchester United didn’t play so often, twice in two years in an FA Cup final, and especially not in the last 10 years. For this group of players, it’s a great opportunity that we need to take.”

United head to Selhurst Park sixth in the league and it is mathematically impossible for them to finish in the top four. The chances for Europa League football next season is also under threat as Newcastle United are just one point behind in seventh.

Qualification for Europe’s second-rate competition will be guaranteed if United beat Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on the 25th of May.