Anne Wong
Manchester United’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur has left manager Erik ten Hag on the brink. The loss at Old Trafford raises pressing questions about Ten Hag’s future with the club.
With fans’ patience wearing thin and the team’s performance in sharp decline, Manchester United’s management must decide whether to continue backing Ten Hag or make a swift change. The stakes are higher than ever.
Erik ten Hag looked visibly distraught after the embarrassing defeat at Old Trafford. Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the restructured hierarchy chose to retain him in the summer, Ten Hag has been one bad defeat away from crisis. This latest shambolic display has brought him closer to the edge.
From the outset, Spurs dominated United. The tone was set within the first three minutes when Micky van de Ven sprinted past multiple United players to assist Brennan Johnson’s goal. Throughout the first half, Spurs created numerous opportunities, leaving United struggling to keep pace.
Son Heung-min‘s replacement, Timo Werner, missed several chances that could have further punished United. The failure to capitalize on these opportunities did little to mask United’s inability to press effectively or create meaningful chances of their own.
The team’s lack of pressing allowed players like Dejan Kulusevski to create multiple chances. The defensive frailty is evident, with United having lost 23 league matches by three or more goals in the last 424 games. In contrast, Sir Alex Ferguson’s era saw this happen only 22 times in 1,035 games.
An ominous aura surrounded Old Trafford. There are no signs of improvement to support continued faith in Ten Hag. The absence of clear strategy, shape, and direction in the team’s play is concerning.
If United’s leadership retains Ten Hag, the task will not become any easier. The upcoming fixtures will severely test the patience of both fans and the board. Survival in his role seems increasingly unlikely given the current performance levels.
The specter of dismissal looms larger with every poor performance. As Ten Hag’s time appears to be running out, United must consider their options carefully to avoid further decline.
Manchester United’s loss to Spurs highlighted the pressing issues facing the club under Erik ten Hag. With a string of poor performances and fan discontent growing, his future with United hangs by a thread.
The upcoming matches could be crucial in determining whether Ten Hag can turn things around or if United will seek a new direction. As it stands, the outlook for Ten Hag remains bleak.
Source: Bbc
