FORMER Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has claimed that footballers these days are more sensitive than they used to be.Ten Hag, who was sacked by United in October, has opened up on what has changed about footballers since he hung up his boots as a pro and took up management.YOUTUBEErik ten Hag has revealed what’s different about footballers in the modern day[/caption]GettyTen Hag spent 13 years as a player in the 90s and early 2000s[/caption]PAHe was sacked as Manchester United manager in October[/caption]The Dutchman spent 13 years as a pro footballer in the Netherlands, before taking up coaching in 2012 and managing clubs like Man Utd, Ajax and Bayern Munich II.And in his first interview since losing his job at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has suggested that the introduction of social media has made players less “thick-skinned”.Speaking on SEG Stories, he said: “[You have to consider] the player’s well-being. How does he deal with the media?“How does he deal with fan reactions? How does he deal with social media in this world? All of that influences a player. Sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. “This generation for example, they usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them. “The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct with that generation. I was approached much more directly.“If I was to do that with a current group of players I would demotivate them.”Interviewer Joost Hofman then chimed in: “You would be sent to HR the next day”. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSTo which Ten Hag agreed, as he replied: “I’ve been there before, not at any particular club”.Ten Hag also discussed how getting his tactical points across is harder with the modern generation of players due to their small attention span. He said: “What did [Donald] Trump use in his election campaign? Mainly TikTok. That is how the current generation take in information.“They have a very short attention span, and in that short attention span you need to deliver your message.“But football is complex, and that is the biggest challenge for all of us. You can’t tell in one or two minutes how you must play football tomorrow.”Ten Hag struggled to get his ideas across in Manchester as his side sat in 14th spot when he was dismissed back in October.Despite delivering two Cups to Old Trafford, Ten Hag’s league performance at the start of the season was deemed unacceptable with his side winning just three of their opening nine games.His permanent replacement, Ruben Amorim, has hit similar stumbling blocks.Amorim has failed to move the needle with United still languishing in 14th spot.While of his 16 league matches as boss, Amorim has led the club to just five wins – losing EIGHT times and drawing three.GettyRuben Amorim has struggled just as much as Man Utd manager[/caption]