SILVESTRE:ERIK MUST SHOW NO MERCY IN THE DRESSING ROOM

A FORMER Manchester United star who once saw Sir Alex Ferguson injure David Beckham with a football boot says Erik ten Hag has to show “no mercy” to his players if he is to survive as manager at the club.

Mikael Silvestre sat stunned with the rest of the dressing room when Ferguson angrily kicked a spare boot at the England captain in 2003, hitting him just above the eye.

While stopping short of recommending the new United manager repeat the act, Silvestre feels he needs to rule the dressing room with the same rod of iron Ferguson used.

But at the same time he feels Ten Hag (above) would benefit from a few behind-the-scenes chats with his senior players to get them onside for what looks like another challenging season.

“When I was there, there was a self-discipline, a dynamic, where you knew what your standing was within the dressing room,” said the five-time Premier League winner.

“And on top of that, the boss would be the boss. You have got to show your authority and make sure everybody knows their role on the pitch and off the pitch.

“You need to be in a position where you earn respect by giving respect. But also be extremely demanding.

“All these guys want to be challenging for the title, so you have to show no mercy within the group and keep everybody in check and make sure they apply what you are doing, because there has been too much liberty taken in recent years.”

There are question marks over whether Ten Hag, who built his reputation by nurturing young players through the ranks in Amsterdam, is ready to lock horns with established stars.

“It is less of a professor/student sort of relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and David de Gea than he has been used to at Ajax,” Silvestre (below) said.

“But the principles remain the same. When you talk to the group, you express yourself the same way, but in a one-on-one situation, you have a more open conversation and you exchange ideas and thoughts more than when you are talking to younger talents.”

■ Mikael Silvestre spoke at the launch of SPITCH fantasy football’s all new Season Mode. Sign up and earn £5 in credit here: spitch.live/uk 18+ only.