Ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Burnley, manager Erik ten Hag was asked by Live Cricket BPL reporters about rumors of a mole in the locker room. The Dutchman firmly denied the claims, stating that he knows his players well. “If you want to climb high, don’t mistake the rainbow for a ladder,” as the saying goes. While many initially believed locker room leaks were a Mourinho-era issue, similar whispers surfaced under Solskjær, Rangnick, and now Ten Hag.

Despite spending over a year at the helm and bringing in several trusted players, Ten Hag still appears to lack full control of the squad. A year ago, during a brutal defeat to Brentford in just the second Premier League matchday, only two of his signings—Martínez and Eriksen—were in the starting lineup. The rest, including De Gea, Maguire, Fred, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sancho, represented the old guard. At the time, critics argued that United’s collapse was largely due to Ten Hag lacking the right players and being forced to adjust his tactics. But that excuse doesn’t hold water this season—the current squad is largely made up of Ten Hag’s own picks.

That includes players he’s extended contracts for, like Rashford, Dalot, and Fernandes, whom he named captain. Yet, the team still lacks the cohesion and dominance of his Ajax peak. Key players like Onana, Lisandro Martínez, and even Casemiro have all fallen short of last season’s standards. Rashford remains a potent attacker, but his tactical discipline is often questioned. While he occasionally tracks back effectively, he’s frequently slow in recovery. Fernandes, meanwhile, continues to be a goal threat, but his high error rate cost United dearly—particularly against Bayern, where one mistake led to a goal on the counterattack.

Though Ten Hag stopped short of naming names, he openly criticized the team’s lack of urgency in closing down space, highlighting how Leroy Sané was allowed a free shot—largely due to poor defending from Rashford and Eriksen. With players like De Gea and Ronaldo now gone, and sidelined figures like Maguire and Sancho absent from matchday squads, fans and media alike have begun shifting blame toward the manager. Some UK outlets even questioned whether Ten Hag needs to reflect more deeply on his own decisions. Despite receiving significant backing and transfer funds, he missed out on key targets like Frenkie de Jong and Harry Kane—leaving the team without a top-class playmaker or a consistent front-line focal point.

British media have also pointed to the toxic locker room atmosphere as a lingering issue, likely fueled by the rumored mole. Sancho, in particular, has been in the spotlight after publicly clashing with Ten Hag and refusing to apologize—leading to his exclusion from first-team activities. Over the past season, many supposedly internal incidents have been leaked to the press, suggesting involvement from player representatives. Sancho’s agency is seen as a possible source, while Maguire and McTominay—though more discreet—may also be indirectly involved. Maguire maintains a composed public image, but what happens behind closed doors remains uncertain. McTominay, on the other hand, has drawn criticism for his poor form, underperforming in both the Bayern and Burnley matches.

Live Cricket BPL fans have noted that McTominay, once seen as a beacon of fighting spirit, now only seems to shine with Scotland, raising suspicions about his unity with the club. Meanwhile, other English core players like Luke Shaw and Rashford continue to factor into the team dynamic. Shaw has been sidelined with a long-term injury, while Rashford, although a guaranteed starter, has shown inconsistent form. While he’s unlikely to be directly opposing Ten Hag, his friendship with Sancho—once even liking a post defending Sancho as a scapegoat—adds another layer of tension to United’s already fragile locker room chemistry.