After speaking with him, I realized he was never a good coach, and I couldn’t afford to waste any more time under his poor leadership. I had to leave the club, and now I’m one of the top midfielders in the Premier League,” a former Manchester United player reveals, explaining his decision to depart the club after just one conversation with Erik ten Hag when he took charge.

Ten Hag took over as Manchester United’s manager in May 2022, succeeding interim boss Ralf Rangnick. Since his arrival, he has overseen the exits of several prominent players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club for a second time after his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

 

James Garner, who also left United during Ten Hag’s time in charge, revealed that his decision to move on was made after just one conversation with the Dutch manager. Garner transferred to Everton in September 2022 for a reported fee of £15 million, including add-ons.

 

In a 2023 interview with BBC Sport, the midfielder said, “Ten Hag is approachable but very strict. He doesn’t tolerate rule-breaking and is direct, holding people accountable if they make mistakes.”

“My conversation with him was straightforward. I directly asked if I would be part of the squad or if he saw a role for me. I didn’t get the response I wanted, so I chose to leave,” Garner explained.

 

He added, “I had an excellent season before that, probably the best I could have, and I didn’t want to stagnate by sitting on the bench every week. Nothing is guaranteed in football, but when the club starts bringing in three or four midfielders, you get a sense of where you stand. I was eager to find first-team football as soon as I came back.”

 

During his time at United, Garner made only seven appearances and spent much of his time on loan at clubs like Watford and Nottingham Forest, where he had more playing time.

 

Since moving to Everton, the 23-year-old has made 63 appearances, scoring two goals and contributing three assists from his defensive midfield role.