Alan Shearer issues blunt response to Erik ten Hag's 'stupid' jibe over Man Utd criticism

has issued a stern warning to , stating that his team must maintain their winning streak or face further scrutiny. Ten Hag entered the 2024/25 season with the task of improving upon United's worst-ever finish from the previous campaign.

Despite being granted a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2026, the team managed only eight points from their first seven games.

This disappointing start sparked rumours of Ten Hag's potential dismissal, and both he and his players faced harsh criticism from Shearer and other pundits.

The situation escalated when Ten Hag labelled the former England striker 'stupid' in a media exchange.

However, United managed to secure a 2-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday, climbing to 11th place in the league thanks to an improved performance.

Despite this, Shearer, who famously didn't mince words in a tense post-match interview with Ten Hag after United's FA Cup win in May, warned that their public spat would continue unless the Red Devils consistently deliver results.

"They did really, really well yesterday, but you've got to keep that up," Shearer conceded on The Rest is Football podcast following Saturday's win over Brentford.

"Otherwise, we're going to keep talking about him and his future and whether he's gonna be the Man United manager - or whether he agrees or disagrees with our opinion.

"They are one of, if not the biggest football club in the world, and when they are sat in 14th position in the Premier League, then whether he likes it or not, we're all going to talk about it."

The remark that seemed to irk Ten Hag came after Shearer criticised Marcus Rashford's performance following his substitution during United's crushing 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford, which many consider to be the nadir of their season.

"Everyone gets criticism from you guys," Ten Hag retorted following Shearer's critique. "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."

"It is not why I took him [Rashford] 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."

Shearer responded by saying: "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."

The ex-Southampton, Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers striker has commended Manchester United for their recent upturn in form.

However, he warned that he will continue to scrutinise Ten Hag's management if the team's performance dips once more.