October 22nd 2024.
According to recent reports, the pressure on Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, is still looming heavily. In fact, it seems that the club has already started to look for potential replacements, with talks being held with Barcelona legend Xavi.
Despite their much-needed victory against Brentford last Saturday, Ten Hag is still under immense pressure at Old Trafford. The start of the 2024-25 season has been a rough one for the team, sitting at just 12th place in the Premier League with only three wins out of eight games.
During the Brentford match, it seemed that Ten Hag's worst fears were coming true when the opposing team took the lead. However, the Red Devils fought back valiantly and secured a crucial victory. It remains to be seen if this will be a turning point for the team, as they have experienced several false dawns under the Dutchman's leadership.
It's worth noting that last summer, Manchester United interviewed other managers as potential replacements for Ten Hag. However, they decided to give him another chance and have shown patience with the 54-year-old this season, resisting the urge to make a change during the recent international break. But, it seems that the club is still keeping their options open, as they have reportedly held talks with Xavi twice in the last few months, according to the Daily Mail.
Xavi, who is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time, has been without a job since being sacked by Barcelona in May. At the beginning of 2024, he had announced his intention to leave his position at the Nou Camp, but was ultimately convinced by Barcelona bosses to stay. However, after a difficult period both on and off the pitch, it was decided that he would move on, with Barca appointing Germany's Hansi Flick as his replacement.
During his time at Barcelona, Xavi was a key player for over a decade and won numerous titles, including eight La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies. He also had success on the international stage, winning the World Cup with Spain and back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
Even though Manchester United has publicly stated their support for Ten Hag, there are rumors that they may consider making a change if their European qualification is at risk. In his pre-match press conference before the Brentford game, Ten Hag addressed the speculation about his future as "fairytales and lies." He also stated that the club is on the same page and that he has the support of the club internally.
Despite finishing in eighth place in the Premier League last season and currently sitting in the bottom-half of the table, Manchester United has at least won trophies in each season under Ten Hag's management. However, club legend Patrice Evra believes that this is not enough for a team of United's caliber.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Evra expressed his support for any manager chosen by the club, but also acknowledged the tough situation they are in. He believes that their rivals have improved, and the style of football played by United needs to be reevaluated. He also mentions the need to rebuild the club and move on from the past.
With a crucial week ahead, Ten Hag's future as Manchester United's manager will continue to be closely watched. The team is set to face Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce on Thursday night, followed by a Premier League match against struggling West Ham. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen if Manchester United will be able to turn their fortunes around and live up to the expectations of their fans and the club's legacy.
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