Alan Shearer replies to Erik ten Hag dubbing his analysis of Man Utd 'stupid'

Alan Shearer has lashed out at Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman called his Manchester United analysis “stupid”. The Red Devils have made a disastrous start to the season, with two defeats in their opening three Premier League games, including a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday.

Ahead of the game, Shearer criticised Marcus Rashford, who appears to have carried last season’s struggles over into the new campaign. The Newcastle legend said Rashford hadn’t been “anywhere near good enough in front of goal” after the 26-year-old drew blanks in United’s opening two league games as well as in the Community Shield.

Ten Hag came to Rashford’s defence, labelling Shearer’s comments “stupid”, which prompted the Match of the Day pundit to throw some shade at the Dutchman. “Look at their performance today… and then see,” Shearer said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

“I totally get why he’s trying to protect his player, he couldn’t say anything different. But I think the truth be known at Man United nothing much has changed over the summer, has it? Certainly not in the performances we’ve seen.”

Goals from Luis Diaz and Mo Salah saw Liverpool run riot at Old Trafford, and Shearer said United were “absolutely battered”. The result leaves them 14th in the Premier League, with doubts already surrounding Ten Hag’s future at the club.

Rashford’s poor form has been emblematic of his club’s, and Shearer expressed concerns about it on Match of the Day last week. “He’s had two games this season, Marcus Rashford, and he’s not had one shot at goal,” he said. “57 goals they [United] scored last season. That was the worst in the top half. So Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been brought into there. He’s going to have to work his magic somehow.

“I know they’ve got [Rasmus] Hojlund out injured, but when he comes in he’s going to have to improve on that because on today’s evidence and in the game against Brighton it’s not been anywhere near good enough in front of goal.”

When questioned about Shearer’s remarks, Ten Hag bristled: “Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are winning, if we are losing. If I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him. I was very happy with Rashy in pre-season, against Fulham and also against Brighton.

“It is not why I took him off because his performances or level were not right – no, we had to rotate and we have good players on the bench as well, you bring new energy. There will be rotation and if then there is the conclusion the player is not performing. Can be sometimes, definitely it wasn’t in this case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit.”