Manchester United are a ‘SHAMBLES’ and have ‘lost’ their identity, claims ex-Liverpool star… as he slams the way players ‘swan around like they have a fear factor when they have NONE’

• Man United lost 4-3 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday
• Erik ten Hag’s side have now lost four of their first six games so far this season 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off! 

Jason McAteer has slammed Manchester United after their poor start to the season and insisted the club has ‘lost their identity’. 

United were well-beaten 4-3 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night despite the close scoreline and the defeat means Erik ten Hag’s side have now lost four of their first six games in 2023-24, including three in a row.

Their poor performances have been coupled with off-field problems at the club which means wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho are not currently available to Ten Hag.

And McAteer – who played for Bolton, Liverpool, Blackburn and Sunderland in the Premier League during his career – hit out at United and insisted they were no longer the team they once were with a whole host of problems besetting Ten Hag.

‘Do you know what else they’ve lost with their identity?,’ he told beIN SPORTS. ‘No one fears Manchester United anymore. 

Jason McAteer has slammed Manchester United and claimed they have lost their identity

The former Liverpool star also insisted that United no longer hold a fear factor for other teams

‘They use to come to Anfield and it would be be like “we’re in a game today, we could lose this”. 

‘We’d never feel like that about anybody but obviously it was Man United who were dominant throughout the 1990s so we’d be up against it. They had that fear factor and they don’t have that anymore. 

‘Their identity is gone and I think sometimes Man United swan around as if it’s still there as if they can stroll into someone’s backyard and take it.’

McAteer also lambasted several first team stars and claimed the necessary solidity and fight is absent within Ten Hag’s squad.

He added: ‘They don’t have the players who want to put the hard yards in when its get tough. 

‘Fernandes, is he going to roll his sleeves up as a captain? No. Antony, Rashford, Martial? (Martial) They can’t even get him fit and he doesn’t even want to play.

Erik ten Hag’s faltering side have now lost four of their first six matches so far this season

McAteer also criticised the fight of several first team stars, including captain Bruno Fernandes 

‘And you’ve got a midfield that isn’t industrious. That’s the first thing you should have as a football club when it’s not going well is players willing to roll their sleeves up, put the hard yards in and win tackles to impact the game. They haven’t got any of that. 

‘The whole dynamics of the club from top to bottom are a mess, it’s a shambles.’

Along with Bayern, United are joined by Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in their Champions League group with those two teams playing out a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

The Red Devils return to action on Saturday when they travel to Turf Moor to take on newly-promoted Burnley at 8PM.

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