Erik ten Hag has expressed sharp criticism towards Gareth Southgate’s ‘vision’ following England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia. The Manchester United manager accused the English coach of relying on “moments” to secure wins.

A first-half header from Jude Bellingham secured all three points for the Three Lions, but the victory seemed unsatisfactory to many, especially considering the second half.

In his post-match analysis of the Group C clash, Ten Hag described the England team as “very passive.”

Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, the Manchester United boss said, “In the first half, I really enjoyed Jude Bellingham. He took the English team by the hand and lifted them to a higher level.”

Ten Hag continued, “The England team played very passively. That’s the vision of the coach [Southgate]. England led 1-0, then he decided to start gambling by tightening the formation and relying on moments in the remaining minutes of the game.”

Ten Hag’s remarks are well-founded, as in the second half, England allowed Serbia to control the ball almost equally with a 49% possession rate. Additionally, Serbia managed to fire off four shots, double the attempts made by the Three Lions.

Southgate is one of the favored candidates to replace Ten Hag at Manchester United, yet ultimately, INEOS decided that no one is better than Ten Hag at the moment.

In a recent interview with Dutch television on Sunday, Ten Hag opened up about his future.

“Manchester United and I still have to find an agreement for a new contract. It’s not easy to accomplish; we still have to discuss this. Man United told me they talked to [Thomas] Tuchel, but they ultimately concluded they have the best manager.”

Ten Hag also confirmed that he met with club officials in Ibiza to discuss his future: “Manchester United interrupted my vacation; they suddenly stood at my doorstep. They flew to Ibiza. INEOS took their time. They are new to football, and reflecting on the season is normal. It’s no secret they talked to many candidates.”

Despite the speculation, Ten Hag is set to stay at Manchester United. Following Euro 2024 will also help Ten Hag scout quality players for his squad. The summer transfer window of 2024 has begun and is heating up by the day.