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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s job in on the line following yet another poor display on Monday there are key reasons why the club should stick with him.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is currently under fire following his team’s poor performance in their 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace on Monday.
United were second best in every aspect with their depleted squad unable to counter the threat of the Eagles who strolled to the comfortable win thanks to two goals from Michael Olise added to Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell’s strikes.
The defeat saw the Red Devils break another unwanted record as they lost 13 Premier League goals for the first time while shipping a record 81 goals and still with four games to go before the season concludes.
It has added pressure on Ten Hag whose position has been the subject of discussion for months as his team limps from one poor performance to another.
Social media has been awash with #TenHagOut hashtags since Monday night and while the Dutchman cannot escape blame, United it would be ill-advised for United to sack him now.
Poor squad
Yes, the manager is responsible for performances on the pitch but what can he do when the players at his disposal cannot do the basics?
United players cannot run, tackle or even position well and hardly put in an effort. This team has made Bournemouth, Burnley, Luton Town, Fulham and now Palace look like prime Barcelona.
Simply put, United to do not have the squad to compete and even if the names suggest there is some quality, they lack the attitude to do it which has been seen not just under Ten Hag but also during the reigns of Ralph Rangnick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and even Jose Mourinho.
United players have a soft underbelly and tend to down tools at the slightest sight of difficulties.
They complained about Mourinho’s man-management, questioned Solskjaer’s credentials, were not happy about Rangnick’s training methods same as Ten Hag.
Changing the manager before changing the players will not stop the rot as we will be here two years down the line with another coach’s job on the line if the squad is not given a reset.
Bad management
Ten Hag has been hung out to dry just like his predecessors due to the lack of knowhow among those who have led the club in the 10 years since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired.
The Dutchman has not got what he demanded to build a squad that could challenge and ended up with second or third choice options.
In his interview with Gary Neville last week, Ten Hag admitted as much, saying he would have liked to sign Harry Kane and Frenkie de Jong but ended up with young Rasmus Hojlund, an aging Casemiro plus a loan deal for Sofyan Amrabat.
The club also took too long to negotiate signings, leaving the manager with little time to integrate the new additions into the squad.
No manager would succeed under such circumstances but thankfully, the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led INEOS is now putting the right structures in place which would help him thrive.
No better alternatives
With Ten Hag entering in the last year of his contract, INEOS would be wise to bid their time on the manager’s position and deal with the squad first to create a great environment for whoever they trust in the dugout going forward.
Ten Hag lifted a squad that finished sixth to third while winning a first trophy in six years in his first season and the many injuries he has dealt with this season cannot be overlooked.
A manager who won three league titles in five years at Ajax Amsterdam does not become a ‘fraud or clown’ overnight and if you look at the alternatives available on the market, there are no guarantees for instant success.
Thomas Tuchel, who is leaving Bayern Munich, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, England’s Gareth Southgate and even ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter have been mentioned.
All these coaches have their pros and cons which does not mean they will succeed with the squad United have. It is not a quick fix.
Also, a new manager will demand his own team and set of players who fit his style, something Ten Hag has been asking for.
Given finances is a major problem at the club, who need to sell most of the squad to raise funds, they better stick with the devil they know, at least for now.
Besides, sacking Ten Hag would come with paying him and his backroom staff a hefty compensation which the club can avoid and invest in the squad instead.
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