Has Erik Ten Hag Sealed His Fate As Manchester United Manager?
Just three games into the new season, Manchester United fans, sports pundits and more are once again questioning what the future holds for the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
Just a day before the FA Cup final, the headlines suggested that Erik Ten Hag would be dismissed by Manchester United no matter the result against rivals City. The brand new INEOS project at United had a major decision to make following the success at Wembley and they decided to stick with the Dutchman despite reports that the club had held talks with the likes of Thomas Tuchel and even Gareth Southgate. Just three games into his third season in charge, Ten Hag is walking on thin ice with no room for excuses anymore.
Ten Hag was an exciting appointment back in 2022, a man with a fantastic story in football who had brought consistent success back to Ajax including three league titles as well as reaching a semi final of the Champions League. A style of football which had fans excited at the prospect of having a strong identity on the pitch once again but now, in the 2024/25 season there is still no real style of play with fans consistently questioning what the manager is trying to achieve with his players and tactics that seemingly do not work together.
In fairness, the Dutchman inherited a poor squad including players who were not up to standard and that lacked the ability to play football at a high level of intensity. However, over five hundred million pounds have been given to the manager to improve his squad since his arrival and yet it seems that the cracks are still showing - most recently in yesterdays defeat to rivals Liverpool, under the management of Arne Slot who only arrived at Anfield in the summer.
United 0-3 Liverpool: Individual Errors Paired With Poor Tactics
Upon entering Old Trafford on Sunday, admittedly there was a strong sense of optimism from myself, as there is every time I go to watch United in the heart of the Stretford End. United had a foot in the game for the opening 20 minutes, despite an early goal being chalked off for Liverpool by VAR - Ten Hags side were attempting a number of ambitious longer range passes which had a lot of supporters scratching their heads. Eventually an individual error from Casemiro when attempting such a pass resulted in a turnover of possession with Liverpool clinically punishing United by taking the lead, 10 minutes before the break.
Casemiro was then caught out once again when attempting to carry the ball from the backline, Luis Diaz then pressuring him into a mistake resulted in Liverpools second before the break. United failed to really make an impact in the second half and could have gone on to concede four or five more than the three that they did despite the ‘main problem’ outlined as the Brazilian midfielder no longer being on the pitch. There were more issues than what people like to talk about - including the positioning of Andre Onana for at least one of the goals as well as a real lack of threat going forward which ultimately comes down to the poor set up on the pitch with many people not really working out what United were trying to achieve. Ten Hag’s side were rightfully defeated by Liverpool in what was a clinical display by Slots side.
The Individuals
Marcus Rashford created two great chances that failed to be converted by Joshua Zirkzee but the Englishman still fails to show the most exciting side of his game which every single fan knows exists and can be uncovered once again - the ability to take on players, break into dangerous areas and score or at least attempt a shot on goal. This is not an attack on the player, more of a reminder as Rashford clearly lacks confidence and seems scared to be the player he can be - which he showed under Ten Hag in the Dutchman’s first season at the club. Has Rashford been told to make adjustments to his game by the manager that ultimately provide more limitations to his desired playstyle? Clarity will be provided in one way or another and I hope that Marcus is able to reach the heights of his game once again at United but that currently seems a world away.
Onana has not been this major step up in the goalkeeper position that many people made out that he would be. David De Gea was an elite level shotstopper in his prime at United but always lacked the ability with his feet in distribution. Whilst Onana is somewhat of an upgrade when it comes to the distribution, his shotstopping is becoming an alarming concern raised by a number of fans. On a number of ocassions I simply find myself puzzled at his positioning and the lack of attempt to even make a save, failing to outstretch his arms or stay frozen on the spot - improvements are definitely needed from the 28 year old.
Bruno Fernandes has been one of my favourite players since joining United, his performances have been some of the best in a red shirt since he arrived at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. However, so far this season he already looks like a passenger - his natural talent didn’t just disappear overnight and so part of his performance so far this season can fall under the questioning of the lack of style and identity which ultimately comes down to the managers set up, selection and tactics. Bruno is built into the spine of the side and he is one of those players that the manager HAS to get the best out of.
Some positives from yesterdays game included the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Toby Collyer. Toby at just 20 was thrown in at the deep end and still made a good impression - the young midfielder deserves a chance to show his ability in a game where United aren’t two down at the break and can flourish in a side that has some control against their opposition.
Final Verdict
I was really hopeful of the appointment of Ten Hag back in 2022, a manager who is clearly passionate and backs his own ability to take on and attempt to change the fortunes of the biggest club in world football, however he is on the brink of following the fate of previous managers at Old Trafford.
Not only is his side showing a lack of improvement on the pitch but his attitude in yesterdays post match press conference was one that didn’t provide for pleasant viewing. Attempting to get one over a journalist by boasting about trophies won in previous seasons when your side has just been beaten by their biggest rivals is not a good look and just comes across as someone with an ego and a reluctancy to take responsibility.
Whilst Ten Hag is known to take responsibility behind the scenes, yesterdays attitude in the eyes of the fans won’t be one that comes across well and raises a number of red flags. Comparing the post match press conference to that of Jose Mourinho’s following defeat to Tottenham Hotspur back in 2018, provides an uncanny resemblance of a manager caught up on past achievements rather than one who wants to accept criticism and move forward to the future.
INEOS will need to be ruthless by determining how long Ten Hag has to turn his fortune around if they are to stick to their ambitions for the club going forward which includes returning United to the top of the Premier League as well as European success.