October 1st 2024.
Pressure is building on Manchester United's head coach, Erik ten Hag, after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford. The team's performance has been described as disgusting, embarrassing, and pathetic, with many questioning Ten Hag's ability to lead the club to success. Just a few weeks ago, the spotlight was on Tottenham's manager, Ange Postecoglou, but now all eyes are on Ten Hag.
Despite winning two major trophies since taking over in 2022, Ten Hag has yet to prove that he has what it takes to bring back the glory days to Manchester United. The recent defeat to Tottenham has left the team in 12th place in the Premier League, much closer to the relegation zone than the top four. This is a familiar position for United, who had a dismal season last year.
The lack of progress over the summer break was evident in their opening game against Fulham, where they were saved from scrutiny by a late goal from new signing Joshua Zirkzee. Humiliating defeats to Brighton and Liverpool followed, with their only impressive performances coming against newly-promoted Southampton and League One side Barnsley.
United's weaknesses were exposed in consecutive draws with Crystal Palace and Dutch side Twente, but it was their dismal loss to Tottenham that felt like a tipping point. Pundits have been tearing into the team, and their legendary defender, Gary Neville, described the performance as "absolutely disgusting." Ex-England midfielder Jamie Redknapp also criticized Ten Hag, saying he looked "completely out of his depth" after the "embarrassing" defeat.
Despite the pressure mounting, United's new owners seem willing to stick with Ten Hag, at least for now. However, a loss to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and another setback against Aston Villa at the weekend could change their minds. The October international break could provide a window for the club to part ways with Ten Hag and bring in a new manager.
If Ten Hag is let go, his own assistant, club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, could be a potential successor. Van Nistelrooy joined the coaching staff over the summer and may have unintentionally fast-tracked his own dismissal. The former United striker has turned down other top jobs to join the club, but he could be asked to take over, at least temporarily, if Ten Hag is replaced.
There has been a lot of talk about Manchester United recently, and not all of it has been positive. After their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford, fans and critics alike were quick to use words like "disgusting," "embarrassing," and "pathetic" to describe their performance. It's a sharp contrast to just a few weeks ago when all eyes were on Tottenham's manager, Ange Postecoglou, following two consecutive losses. Now, the pressure has shifted to Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag.
The match against Spurs was a painful one for United. Despite only scoring one goal, Tottenham completely dominated the first half and things only got worse when Bruno Fernandes was sent off in the second half. The final score of 3-0 was a harsh blow for United and only added to the mounting pressure on Ten Hag.
Ten Hag has been in charge of Manchester United for three seasons now, but he's still struggling to bring back the glory days for the club. While he can point to winning two major trophies since taking the job in 2022, it seems like time may be running out for him to prove himself. The defeat to Spurs has left United in 12th place in the Premier League, closer to the relegation zone than the top four. It's a familiar position for them after a disappointing season last year.
The lack of progress during the summer break was evident in their first match against Fulham, where they narrowly avoided a loss thanks to a goal from summer signing Joshua Zirkzee. They suffered humbling defeats to Brighton and Liverpool before finally finding some success against newly-promoted Southampton and League One side Barnsley. Even then, their weaknesses were exposed in draws against Crystal Palace and Dutch side Twente. The defeat to Tottenham felt like a tipping point for the team.
Criticism from pundits is nothing new for Manchester United, but the severity of the comments after the Spurs match doesn't bode well for Ten Hag. Gary Neville, a legendary defender for the club, called the performance "absolutely disgusting," while Jamie Redknapp, a former England midfielder, said Ten Hag looked "completely out of his depth." The club's new owners may be concerned, but for now, they seem to be sticking with Ten Hag despite considering other potential replacements over the summer.
However, things could change quickly for Ten Hag. Their upcoming matches against Porto and Aston Villa will be crucial, and poor results could lead to his dismissal during the October international break. If that happens, Ten Hag's own assistant, club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, could be a potential replacement. The 48-year-old former striker, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for Manchester United, turned down other top jobs to join Ten Hag's coaching staff. But if the club decides to make a change, he could be the one to step in, at least on an interim basis.
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