Former Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane has admitted that he was "surprised" to see Erik ten Hag kept on as Red Devils head coach beyond the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Ten Hag was expected to be sacked at the end of last season due to the team's struggles, but the Dutchman managed to guide Man United to a victory over Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup, which played a major role in him keeping his job.
The 55-year-old was ultimately relieved of his duties at the end of October, though, with Ruben Amorim being appointed head coach in November.
Varane made 95 appearances for Man United during his time at Old Trafford, but he left at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract.
The World Cup winner made the move to Como on a free transfer last July, but he announced his retirement from professional football soon after due to a severe knee problem.
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Varane opens up on testing relationship with Ten Hag
Varane has called his relationship with Ten Hag "very tense", and the Frenchman claimed that the former head coach had lost the dressing room at the end of last season.
"It's hard to find the right words. It was very tense at times," Varane told The Athletic. "Sometimes, he made an effort to listen to the players' feedback. Sometimes, he made decisions without listening to the players' feelings.
"So there were ups and downs. It was complicated at times. We had a robust discussion. We told each other some truths, but then I didn't play for almost two months.
"I said I didn't agree with certain ways of doing things regarding the relationship between him and the team. It wasn't something that I thought was good for the team because some of the players weren't at all satisfied.
"It was not good in terms of the relationship with the coach. He said: 'Okay, I hear what you said' and after that I didn't play.
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Ten Hag was sacked by Man United in October 2024
"He always needed an example of a player who was alone the entire time he was at Manchester. He did that with at least one important player on the team.
"He was always in conflict with certain leaders of the group. That is his way of managing. I was surprised he stayed [after the FA Cup final]. The connection with the group no longer existed.
"I also have to recognise what was good [about Ten Hag's management]. He gave me the peace of mind to come back from my injury to play in the FA Cup final. He was counting on me.
"That was very positive, because it allowed me to play my role in the team. We had ups and downs. I can't say everything was bad. There were complicated moments."
Current head coach Amorim's future is now being called into question due to his struggles, with Brentford's Thomas Frank thought to have been identified as a potential replacement for the Portuguese.
Matt Law
