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(Finally) The End of Ten Hag?

By on October 2, 2024

If things could get any worse for the fans with Man UTD tickets, it did last weekend. 

A 3-0 humiliating defeat to the Spurs at home might have concluded the worst-ever start by a Manchester United team in terms of performance. A distraught defense and a lackluster, uninterested set of frontrunners concluded the misery at Old Trafford. 

The loyal fans with Man UTD tickets at Old Trafford are furious. 

And now, nothing more can be said in support of Erik ten Hag that could restore faith in the Dutch manager’s ability to retain the job.  But where does United go from here? 

According to reports, pressure is ‘mounting’ on Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag after their damaging 3-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was under immense pressure last season as they struggled to finish eighth in the Premier League, but he kept his job after beating Man City at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Man Utd’s optimism increased in the summer, as they had a positive transfer window, while Ten Hag penned a contract extension until 2026.

However, Ten Hag is among the favorites to be the next manager sacked, as the Red Devils have lost three of their opening six Premier League matches.

Man Utd had Bruno Fernandes sent off against Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou’s side was comfortably better before the Portugal international was dismissed. Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke scored for the London outfit, which could have easily won more comfortably.

A report from The Telegraph claims the ‘pressure is mounting’ on Ten Hag and ‘concern within the club is rife,’ but club chiefs ‘will continue to support Ten Hag ahead of key matches against Porto and Aston Villa this week.’

The report adds.

‘Erik ten Hag is expected to remain in charge for Manchester United’s games against Porto and Aston Villa this week amid growing pressure on the beleaguered manager.

‘Ten Hag’s position is under intense scrutiny after United slumped to a second successive 3-0 Premier League home defeat on Sunday when Tottenham thumped them.

‘United’s start to the season has caused consternation within Old Trafford, but it is understood that there are no plans for an immediate change of manager, and the hierarchy’s focus is on supporting Ten Hag, his staff, and the players at a difficult juncture.

‘The pressure on Ten Hag is building, though, and the Dutchman needs a swift reaction from his players away to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and then at Aston Villa in the Premier League three days later in United’s final game before the next international break.’

‘Erik ten Hag is facing a crucial run of games at Manchester United as former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is being considered a possible replacement for him in the Old Trafford dugout.

‘Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed CaughtOffside that Man Utd wants to see improved results and performances soon, even if Ten Hag is currently considered safe in his job.

Ten Hag – Not Concerned About Getting Sacked

Erik ten Hag insisted he is not concerned about being sacked after claiming he and the Manchester United owners are still in the same boat – despite their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham. It made the fans with Man UTD tickets more furious. 

United had captain Bruno Fernandes sent off as they suffered a second 3-0 loss at home this season. This leaves them 12th in the table, with more defeats than wins and a negative goal difference.

But the Dutchman is adamant that the new power structure under co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe—including chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth—is on the same page as him, as he claimed he was not worried about losing his job.

“We are all on one page or in one boat together: the ownership, the staff, and the players. I don’t have that concern.”

Ashworth and Berrada said Ten Hag had their full support before the Old Trafford loss to Liverpool, but their form has been mixed since then, including a 1-1 draw against his former club, FC Twente, in the Europa League.

For all with Man UTD tickets, the misery started during the mid-week fixture. 

Ten Hag was critical of his players for allowing a similar goal against Spurs when Micky van de Ven was allowed to run 70 yards through the United side just as Twente’s Bart van Rooij had.

Pundits Call out Ten Hag

The second-half downpour reflected the wider mood at Old Trafford after Manchester United suffered another painful defeat, which once again raised questions about manager Erik ten Hag’s position.

The words from the pundits, including United legend Gary Neville, reflect precisely what the fans with Man UTD tickets were saying. The Sunday loss should just be the final nail in the coffin. 

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville called the display “disgusting” and “disgraceful,” while fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said it was “embarrassing” and that the club had hit “rock bottom.”

Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “That’s the type of performance which gets the manager the sack.”

Ten Hag’s second season proved far more challenging. United finished eighth in the league and were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage. That was redeemed somewhat by an FA Cup final victory over Premier League champions Manchester City, which denied their neighbors a Double.

“I think they’ve got to make a big decision this week – I think his time might be up,” former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: “It’s one of the worst performances I have seen under Ten Hag – and that is saying something. It is really bad.”

It was so bad that former United player Ashley Young echoed Neville’s calls for the United players to hold a “crisis meeting” this week.

“Today has shocked me about how low they have gone,” added ex-United captain Neville. “That felt like one of those days where they sank low.”

Former Man Utd defender Phil Jones added on BBC Match of the Day: “They are struggling for form. The pressing was that they were getting there too late and were leaving massive spaces.

In a show of defiance, Ten Hag said, “It is always a new day” when asked where United went from here, but he admitted his side “made many mistakes” and “lost confidence” after conceding inside three minutes.