Javier Hernandez sends strong message to Man Utd squad over Erik ten Hag

Ten Hag took charge of United this summer but his first match ended in a nightmare as the Red Devils lost 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Dutchman faces a huge task to lead United into the Premier League top four spots and back into the Champions League after their sixth-place finish last term.

Ten Hag has received support from some pundits, with Steve Nicol adamant that no-one can point the finger at him and that the problems are with the United players instead.

And now Mexico international Hernandez, nicknamed Chicharito, who scored 59 goals in 157 games for United from 2010 until 2015, has told the current squad to ‘get over’ the trophy-laden Sir Alex Ferguson era and adapt to Ten Hag’s tactics.

The two-time Premier League champion, who now plays for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, told PA: ‘Sir Alex was very good… To substitute that man like that is not easy. It is like winning the lottery.

‘Do you think anyone you hire afterwards is going to be able to do 80 per cent of what Ferguson did? My point of view is that after Ferguson brings so much pressure that it just isn’t going to work out.

‘United need to now get over the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson has gone. Would we like to have someone similar? Yes, yes, yes. But Sir Alex has gone and it is never going to be the same.

‘So United have to adapt and allow the next manager to do it in his own way.’

United return to action on Saturday when they travel to face Brentford in the Premier League.

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