Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says modern players struggle to deal with criticism and that his generation had “much thicker skin”.

The 55-year-old Dutchman was sacked by United in October, three months after he signed a new two-year contract.

His tenure included several issues and disputes with players.

Speaking to SEG Stories, external – a media outlet attached to his management agency – Ten Hag said: “This generation usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them.

“The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct.

“I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players I would demotivate them.

“If you do that to the current generation, they find it offensive.”

Ten Hag won the FA Cup and League Cup during his two full seasons at United, but they finished eighth in the table last season, their worst Premier League finish. Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated midway through Ten Hag’s first season after he gave an interview to Piers Morgan in which he said he did not respect Ten Hag.

Jadon Sancho was banished from the first-team squad after accusing Ten Hag of making him a “scapegoat” following criticism of his performances in training. Ten Hag disciplined Marcus Rashford last year for missing training following an unauthorised trip to Belfast. Former United defender Raphael Varane last week said he was surprised the club gave Ten Hag a new contract because his connection with the players “no longer existed”.