3-Good, 2-Worst – Reasons why Manchester United should not sack Erik ten Hag as new Glazers update emerge
Man United is facing a multitude of challenges: overspending, regressing, tactical confusion, and a string of losses. Despite all this, they must maintain their composure with Erik ten Hag at the helm.
In a rather unusual turn of events, a former military police officer trailed Erik ten Hag into the press conference room following another disappointing performance by Manchester United.
The current managerial situation at the club is reminiscent of the eras of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, with a touch of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ten Hag’s fall from grace has been quite abrupt.
Ten Hag, initially reluctant to compare himself to Van Gaal, exhibited a sense of denial after the Manchester derby, insisting that United was “on the rise.”
However, just 72 hours later, he abandoned that delusion and acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, stating that their performances fell “below the standards” following a second consecutive 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Internal discord in the dressing room bears resemblance to the final months of Mourinho’s tenure, and United’s defense is as leaky as it was during the last days of Solskjaer’s reign.
In fact, United has lost more games under Ten Hag’s leadership than they did in the period leading up to Solskjaer’s departure two years ago.
Now, a potentially challenging period awaits. Five of United’s next six matches will be away from Old Trafford, which may not be a bad thing considering their lackluster home record this season (five losses out of ten fixtures).
Yet, United’s performance away from home under Ten Hag has been dismal, with 12 losses in the Premier League and European competitions and just 10 wins out of 23 league matches.
Moreover, their upcoming destinations over a 39-day span include Copenhagen, Everton, Istanbul, Newcastle, and Liverpool. It’s a treacherous path.
The Parken Stadium in Copenhagen is known for its unique atmosphere, and there’s little respite after the November internationals.
United’s track record at Goodison Park against Everton has often been lackluster. Galatasaray’s fans are famously passionate, and St James’ Park hasn’t been a kind ground for United.
Consecutive midweek matches against Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Old Trafford precede a daunting return to Anfield, where Liverpool has dominated United in recent years.
United hasn’t won at Anfield since January 2016. Their record at Liverpool since then is far from impressive.
The critical match is set for December 17. Mourinho’s last stand at Anfield was on December 16, and he left Carrington for the final time on the morning of the 18th.
United is out of the competitions they’ve won in the last six years and faces uncertainty in the Champions League. The game isn’t over for Ten Hag just yet, but it’s clear that he’s approaching a crucial juncture.
Past United managers like Moyes and Van Gaal should have departed in December, while Solskjaer was let go in November.
Ten Hag, who enjoyed considerable support in the transfer market and had autonomy in recruitment, now faces the challenge of building a team from the ground up.
While there’s a prevailing sentiment that Ten Hag might have passed the point of no return to make United a credible force once more, it’s imperative for United to remain steadfast.
Many fans still back him, and the majority haven’t turned against a manager who brought discipline back to the dressing room and authority to the manager’s role.
The path forward for United is uncertain. Considering the lack of a clear candidate for the job, they must tread carefully, as they cannot afford to repeat past interim appointments.
