infowebsite.in
Erik Ten Hag fights to save his Manchester United tenure as defensive woes and inconsistent form raise doubts. Can he turn things around before it’s too late?
Erik ten Hag of Manchester United (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
New Delhi: Manchester United’s embattled manager Erik ten Hag appeared to be on the brink as his team squandered a two-goal lead against Porto in the dying moments at Estadio do Dragao. In what could have been another morale-crushing defeat Harry Maguire’s late equalizer managed to salvage a 3-3 draw and momentarily ease the pressure on the Dutchman. However, the manager’s future still remains under intense scrutiny as his team continues to underperform both domestically and in Europe.
In the post-match conference, Ten Hag said, “We will get there. Judge us at the end of the season, not now. We’re in a process, and we will improve. We’ve reached finals in the past two seasons and we will continue to fight.” His defiance was clear but with United sitting 13th in the Premier League table patience among fans and the club hierarchy is wearing thin.
After a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur there were reports suggesting that Ten Hag had two games to save his job. The draw in Portugal while saving face for the moment may not be enough to quiet the growing calls for change unless there is a swift turnaround in form.
Stats paint a clear picture of struggles
Despite Ten Hag’s optimism, the statistics paint a less-than-flattering picture of his reign at Old Trafford. Since taking charge in 2022 no Premier League team has conceded three or more goals in a game across all competitions more frequently than Manchester United so far 24 times to be exact. That’s a staggering figure for a club with aspirations of competing at the highest level in both domestic and European football.
The defensive frailties have been glaring as well. In the 62 games played since the beginning of last season, United have conceded 31 times which is the most of any current Premier League side. While they have managed four clean sheets so far this season for a club that dreams of silverware their defensive lapses are a serious concern.
Compounding their defensive woes Man United have developed an alarming habit of squandering leads this season. Their inability to maintain control in the matches have been particularly evident in European competition, where they have now gone five games without a win despite holding two-goal advantages in three of them.
🔴⚠️ Manchester United have won just one of their last ten games in European competitions.
Five defeats, four draws and one win (vs Copenhagen at home) under Erik ten Hag. pic.twitter.com/ExpX9yxRXc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 3, 2024
It’s a pattern that has repeated itself far too often. Even when United get in front they remain vulnerable and unable to close out matches with the authority expected of a top-tier team.
Ten Hag’s leadership under fire
Despite the ongoing issues, Ten Hag remains resolute in his belief that he can turn things around. “You see the spirit and connection between the staff and players,” he noted. “The players have a strong mentality, but there are areas we need to improve, particularly in defense. Not long ago, we had three clean sheets, so we know we can defend well, but we need to get back to those habits.”
Still, his future hinges on results, and those have been in short supply. The financial implications of sacking the manager, especially so soon after providing him with the resources to build his squad, are likely a key factor in the club’s decision-making. If Ten Hag wants to avoid the threat of being sacked he needs to find a way to build better connectivity between himself and the players.
A crucial test awaits this weekend
Up next for Manchester United is a tough trip to Aston Villa who are riding high after a landmark victory over Bayern Munich. A loss there could push Ten Hag’s tenure further into peril. Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves also emphasized the importance of this game stating “Erik’s resilient, but Villa Park will be a huge test. He needs to find a way to bounce back.”
Ten Hag’s tenure has been a series of starts and stops with moments of promise undone by recurring problems. The inconsistency both in attack and defense has raised serious questions about whether he is the right man to lead the club back to the top. The late equalizer in Portugal provided temporary relief as it may only delay the inevitable if Man United’s fortunes do not improve.
With a mounting list of issues to address and time running out to make a meaningful impact this season, Ten Hag faces the toughest challenge of his managerial career. He may continue to fight but whether he can rally his team to do the same remains to be seen this weekend against Villa.
Next Article
Follow us on social media
