In a revealing insight into Manchester United’s recent struggles, former assistant coach Rene Hake has suggested that some players were reluctant to heed the coaching staff’s instructions during his brief spell at Old Trafford.

Hake, who joined the club last summer as part of an INEOS-led reshuffle of the coaching setup, worked alongside new manager Erik ten Hag before being shown the exit door shortly after the Dutchman’s sacking in late October.

Speaking to Dutch publication AD, the 52-year-old explained that while some players, such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, were receptive to the staff’s methods, others were more resistant to change.

“[Rashford and Garnacho] were soon open to working on timing their runs from deep,” Hake said. “With Bruno Fernandes, it was a lot about choosing a position in our build-up.”

However, the former Go Ahead Eagles coach added: “But sometimes, players said, ‘I prefer not to change anything in my game at the moment’, and you have to accept that.

Hake’s comments provide a rare insight into the challenges faced by United’s coaching staff in implementing their tactical vision, with the club’s long-standing desire to recapture the winning culture of the Sir Alex Ferguson era seemingly at odds with the mindsets of certain players.

The experienced coach also praised the influence of Casemiro, describing the Brazilian midfielder as having “an antenna” and the ability to “already sense what is going to happen on the field” when it mattered most.

Despite his brief tenure, Hake appeared to hold no ill will towards the club, stating: “I don’t hold a grudge. I worked well with the players, staff and other personnel. I said goodbye to everyone to end it well.”

With United currently sitting 13th in the Premier League and preparing for a crucial Manchester derby against rivals City on Sunday, the revelations from Hake may raise further questions about the squad’s willingness to fully embrace the changes introduced by Amorim and his coaching team.