Rene Meulensteen names two Manchester United stars who 'can't handle the pace' of Premier League

Raphael Varane and Casemiro are no longer able to cope with the pace of the Premier League, according to Rene Meulensteen.

The former Manchester United coach believes the responsibility of what happens on the field lies at Erik ten Hag's door after the manager was backed in the transfer market. United have endured a difficult start to the season, having already lost six matches in all competitions.

United are down in 10th in the Premier League as the only top-half side with a negative goal difference and sit bottom of their Champions League group on zero points. The underwhelming start has come as an immense disappointment after all the progress made last season.

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Several of last season's high-performing stars have seen their levels steeply decline in the opening weeks. Meulensteen thinks Ten Hag can't get the football he wants with Casemiro and Varane in the side.

"United have certain shortcomings. [Varane] cannot handle the pace," Meulensteen told ESPN. "The Premier League is dynamic. Everything goes at 100 kilometres per hour.

"That is the big problem in midfield. They have no energy and that is how the defence gets into trouble. He [Ten Hag] wants to put a lot of pressure on, with a lot of intensity. Just like at Ajax. But he doesn't have the players for that. The players don't have the mentality to constantly put pressure on.

"Casemiro, for example, can't handle it at all. Ten Hag has a certain conviction about how he wants to play. But he has to find ways to get there."

Ten Hag spent nearly £200m on his squad in the summer with the