Erik ten Hag’s Struggles Should Manchester United Have Foreseen the Tottenham Debacle
Manchester United’s recent loss to Tottenham was unsettling, leaving fans and analysts buzzing. The 3-0 defeat not only stunned spectators but also reignited questions about Erik ten Hag’s managerial tactics. Backed by the club’s decision-makers in the summer, Ten Hag now faces immense scrutiny.
A shambolic defensive display and a heavy defeat—Manchester United’s game against Tottenham was a haunting déjà vu. Despite Bruno Fernandes’s red card in the 42nd minute, United’s performance with 11 men was still underwhelming. As Gary Neville noted, it was ‘one of the worst performances’ he’s seen under Ten Hag.
Astonishingly, this was the 23rd fixture where United conceded three or more goals under Ten Hag, nearly 20% of his 123 games in charge. This percentage exceeds those of the last five managers combined, including David Moyes and Ralf Rangnick.
The entire team underperformed even before Fernandes’s red card.
Tottenham managed 24 shots, exploiting the significant gaps in United’s defense. Since last season, only Sheffield United has conceded three or more goals more frequently than Manchester United.
Consider this: since the start of last season, United faced 20 or more shots on 16 occasions. That’s more than any other Premier League side, including relegated teams. These figures are alarming for a club with high aspirations.
The recent loss could have been worse as Tottenham persistently attacked, leveraging the glaring spaces in United’s formation.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville labeled the performance as ‘disgusting.’ At this rate, United risks spiraling further down.
Despite winning two trophies, Ten Hag’s true test lies in league performance, and here, United appears to be regressing. As Jamie Redknapp highlighted, United seems to be ‘going backwards.’ Ten Hag’s system is being questioned more than ever.
With an average of 1.17 points per game this season, the numbers align dangerously close to the 1.23 points per game from last season’s final three months.
United’s decision-makers can’t claim surprise. The current scenario mirrors last season’s performance. The hope was that new signings and fewer injuries would change their fortunes, but that hasn’t materialized.
Against Tottenham, even with almost a full-strength squad, Ten Hag’s recent signings made little difference. Key positions remain problematic.
Diogo Dalot’s misplaced positioning during Tottenham’s second goal encapsulates United’s defensive disarray. Despite Ten Hag’s tactics, structural issues persist.
The players can’t be absolved of their share of the blame. As Christian Eriksen noted after the Europa League draw against Twente, their opponents ‘wanted it more.’
But such issues point back to Ten Hag. His system remains flawed, evident in how teams exploit spaces left by full-backs and holding midfielders.
As Manchester United grapples with continuing issues, the spotlight remains on Erik ten Hag. While new signings and fewer injuries raised hopes, fundamental problems persist. United’s decision-makers must assess how to pivot from this repetitive cycle of underperformance and look for long-term solutions.