Erik ten Hag accuses reporters of 'going around our back' as he was made to explain why Man United BANNED a string of high-profile journalists after their reports that his players are losing confidence in him

Erik ten Hag has explained why several reporters were banned from his press conference at Manchester United's training base on Tuesday.

Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solekhol, the Manchester Evening News' chief United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, The Mirror's David McDonnell and Rob Dawson of ESPN were all refused entry to the media briefing ahead of Wednesday's game against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The order came from the club's communications director Andrew Ward over what United claimed was the reporters' failure to contact the club for comment before publication.

Ten Hag said: 'They should come to us first and not go around our back printing articles, that is not the right thing. 

'I think we have another relationship, they can, they should come to us beforehand, we have a normal and professional discussion and debate about it.'

United confirmed they had 'taken action against several news organisations not for publishing stories we don't like, but for doing so without contacting us first to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or contextualise'.

It is not clear whether the ban was just for today's press conference or for all future briefings with the manager until further notice.

According to the MEN, Ward, who joined the club in 2019, has previously stopped reporters from putting questions to Ten Hag because of perceived negative coverage. Mail Sport has approached Ward for comment.

Several outlets this week have reported that United's stars are losing faith in Ten Hag amid the club's dismal showing so far this season. 

United have already lost 10 matches despite an outlay of more than £180m in the summer transfer window, although they have been dealing with injuries to several key players.

The MEN reported on Tuesday that several senior players have been left startled at the poor quality of signings made by the Dutch manager, including £72million Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, £60m Mason Mount and Antony, who joined from Ajax for £82m. They insist the story was 'well-sourced'.

The paper also said Ten Hag had been forced to axe his favoured 'didn't follow the rules' phrase he often uses in post-match press conferences to describe his team's performances.

Ten Hag finds himself under renewed scrutiny following Saturday's abject performance at Newcastle, and facing discord in the dressing room.

The 53-year-old desperately needs to bounce back from the Newcastle defeat at home to Chelsea on Wednesday and Bournemouth on Saturday amid growing unrest in the camp, although United fans are still behind the manager and plan to voice their support for him when they host the Blues on Wednesday night.

A number of senior players are said to be questioning Ten Hag's approach and tactics. Some believe they have been made to train too hard this season while others feel the manager is too authoritarian.

Mail Sport's Chris Sutton believes, however, that United's protracted malaise is 'far bigger' than the manager.

'He has players in that dressing room who are snakes as far as I am concerned,' Sutton said on Mail Sport's It's All Kicking Off podcast.

United have previously attempted to prevent reporters from their press conferences. 

Last month another newspaper was unable to send reporters to a briefing with Ten Hag after they wrote the manager was 'on thin ice'.

One infamous example came in 2011, when former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was caught telling a press officer to ban then Associated Press journalist Rob Harris after he asked a question about Ryan Giggs.