I’ve seen many fans and pundits make this claim. Do you think Manchester United players aren’t playing as well as they can in hope to get Ten Hag sacked. I’ve seen this argument used against Rashford as people since he’s got his new contract he’s just content to get his money and play as well.
Though Hoijund has claimed the players all back Ten Hag still https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/nov/09/erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-squad-backing-rasmus-hojlund
There is a core of players who seem to have the motivation to do things better. Onana, Fernandes, Rashford, Wan Bissaka, Maguire, Shaw, Martinez, Casemiro seem to care enough to realize that things will turn around if the manager is given time to actually work with the team and get proper support from the management at the club. Even if their levels of talent are highly variable.
Compare that to the likes of Sancho who seem happy enough to rot in the reserves rather than actually prove that they are worthy of a place in the team.
There is a lot of deadweight in the squad which is proving hard to shift due to our stupid recruitment policy. Which seems to be emergency loans, overpaying for unproven talent, and giving huge wages and big contracts to players so we cannot sell them when needed.
There was a video earlier showing how gutted Fernandes was after last nights match. I’m glad I saw it because it shows there is fight there. But turning this around will take a lot more than fight.