David Beckham has tips for rescuing Man United stars as he answers the question about Erik ten Hag

Being a Manchester United player should be motivation enough for their current stars to be ready for the big games.

That’s according to club legend David Beckham, who told talkSPORT he likes under-fire boss Erik ten Hag despite his struggles this season.

United sit eighth in the Premier League table and will miss out on the Champions League next season, although they could still win the FA Cup against rivals Manchester City.

Doubts have been raised over Ten Hag’s future at the club amid a disastrous season with many players performing well below expectations.

They have three huge games to complete before their FA Cup final appearance, but 1999 treble winner Beckham believes the squad should already be motivated to win whatever the occasion.

Speaking to talkSPORT at the premiere of ’99’, a new documentary on Amazon about United’s treble success, he was asked about the Ten Hag having to motivate his players and said: “Well, in all honesty, you’d hope that the manager doesn’t have to do much.

“I think that’s the point of being a Manchester United player and playing in these big games, you should be motivated,” he explained, reflecting on the mindset that helped him and his team-mates to win Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. in 1999.

“When you’re a professional footballer and you’re doing the job you love and you’re at the club you love, when you play any game, whether it’s a regular season game or an FA Cup final against your rivals, then that would that should be motivation enough.

“If it’s not then you’re in the wrong team and playing the wrong sport, so at the end of the day I’ve gone into every game, whether it’s been a youth cup game, a friendly, the off-season or the final European Cup, with the same mentality and the same drive.

“That’s what you would hope from any team and any Manchester United player, to go into an FA Cup final against Manchester City with enough motivation that a manager shouldn’t have to say much.”

He later added: “We all know that Erik is a very skilled manager and a good manager and for the right reasons.

“But I think we were lucky these days to have Sir Alex Ferguson, we were lucky to have Eric Harrison and Jim Ryan and Nobby Stiles and all these great managers and motivators.”

Despite United’s 4-0 drubbing at Crystal Palace on Monday, talkSPORT understands Ten Hag will not be sacked ahead of the FA Cup final on May 25.

If the club decided to make a change, former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is a leading candidate to take over, with Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel other potential names.

The FA Cup final result could have a huge impact on their decision, but United face three more big games before then.

Ten Hag’s side will target Arsenal for the title on Sunday before playing Newcastle and Brighton in their quest for European football next season.