Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana admits Erik ten Hag "paid the price" for poor results, but insists he still has a good relationship with the club's former boss.
Ruben Amorim is arriving in a wave of expectation after running riot in Portugal with Sporting, as was evidenced in the 4-1 Champions League rout of Manchester City on Tuesday night, but that is exactly the sentiment Erik ten Hag arrived with after impressing at Ajax.
Amorim will be hoping to buck that trend when he starts work at Old Trafford on March 11 but, in the meantime, Onana has lifted the lid on Ten Hag's exit having been brought to the club by the Dutchman.
Speaking before United host PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night, the Man Utd stopper said: "When I heard [Ten Hag] was leaving, I felt bad.
"It's not always easy for players to understand when a manager is leaving.
"At the end of the day, the club has to make a decision and we have to follow [that decision]. I worked with him [at Ajax] and he is a very good manager. I have a very good relationship with him.
"Why things didn't work out here is simple - we didn't win enough games. At a high level, it is not easy and sometimes we all have to pay the price and, unfortunately, [this time] it was him.
"We did everything - the players gave everything, worked hard and tried their best - but it just didn't work."
United are undefeated in both games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will remain in charge until new boss Amorim takes over on November 11.
Onana, however, backed his teammates to turn it around and succeed under Amorim, whose first game in charge will be a trip to Ipswich Town in the Premier League after the international break.
He added: "It is a different system but my team-mates here are all pragmatic. Everyone here is capable to play in each system, so I don't think this will be any issue for us.
"We have big players and they will step up."
With Amorim now clearly Ineos' man, United players will have to fall in line with his approach or face the prospect of being booted out either in January or next summer.
