November 4th 2023.
Erik ten Hag is fighting to save his job as Manchester United manager, but former Liverpool great Graeme Souness doesn't think it's a surprise. He believes from the start of Ten Hag's tenure, the players knew he was not up to the task of reviving the club's fortunes.
Ten Hag's first season brought plenty of success, as they qualified for the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup as well as reaching the FA Cup final. Unfortunately, United have regressed this season, and the recent defeat against Newcastle was a new low point.
Souness highlighted Ten Hag's 'ill-fitting suits' as a sign of what was to come, and he believes the players were not buying in to his 'body language, his demeanour, his soft Dutch accent'. He believes they looked for 'little chinks in this manager’s armour' and didn't buy in to his message of 'we’re all in this together'.
The dressing room in football is a ruthless place, and Ten Hag's struggles this season have not come as a surprise to Souness. His assessment of Ten Hag's tenure is a damning one, and Manchester United will have to consider their options for a replacement soon.
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