Andrei Kanchelskis appears to be joining the growing throng of Manchester United icons turning on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
And it’s not just the terrible results, or the baffling tactics, which have the former Russia international wondering just what on earth is going on at Old Trafford.
Kanchelskis was back in England last month, travelling to the UK during the September international break. A man who won two top-flight titles under Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 1990s had hoped to clock in back at his old employers too.
But, when Kanchelskis touched down, he was informed that Manchester United would not be accepting visitors.
Not even from a man who helped spark the Red Devils’ dominance of the early Premier League landscape.
Andrei Kanchelskis hits out at Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
“No, I couldn’t,” Kanchelskis tells Russia-based publication Sport 24 when asked if he visited Carrington during his recent trip to the UK. “I was in England during the break for the national team games.
“I wanted to go to the Manchester United base, but they didn’t let me.”
Now, there are two sides to every story, of course.
If Kanchelskis simply turned up unannounced, you can maybe understand why Man United may have been reluctant to give him a guided tour of their new facilities.
Another Old Trafford icon Rio Ferdinand was allowed into Carrington a couple of weeks ago. Albeit, that was in an official role. Ferdinand conducted interviews with Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Ten Hag himself as part of his TV duties.
Last year, Kanchelskis admitted he was ‘very interested’ in a Man United return in a behind-the-scenes role. Formerly of Everton and Rangers, the 54-year-old is determined to prove himself in England either as a coach or a director.
But, while it always felt unlikely that Ineos would have Kanchelskis at the forefront of their minds when revamping Man United, Kanchelskis suggests he might not accept a job even if he was offered one as long as Ten Hag remains at the helm.
“This coach, the Dutchman Ten Hag, has closed himself off from everyone,” adds Kanchelskis, the man who nailed down the right-hand side spot at Old Trafford long before David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo came onto the scene.
“I didn’t even ask for an internship. Why should I work with this man? He doesn’t let anyone near the club’s base; neither journalists nor United legends.
“The training process is very closed. What is he afraid of and hiding? I don’t understand. The base is closed to any outside eyes.”
Kanchelskis wants Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti at Old Trafford
With pressure on Ten Hag reaching almost intolerable levels – Ruud van Nistelrooy could reportedly take over Man United on an interim basis until the end of the season – Kanchelskis hopes to see Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti join the Red Devils, and add another name to a CV brimming with A-list superclubs.
Real president Florentino Perez claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted the Los Blancos chief to succeed him back in 2013.
And, speaking of Ferguson, Kanchelskis has scheduled a reunion with his old mentor the next time he visits Britain.
“By the way, about Sir Alex, I wanted to see him too. I wrote to him, but he was in the USA at the time. We agreed to meet next time,” explains Kanchelskis, who was most recently seen in the dugout of Kazakhstani outfit FC Dzhalal-Abad.
“And I wasn’t in Manchester for long. I arrived in the morning and returned to London in the evening.”
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