No extra excuses for Erik ten Hag as Man United hunch worsens

Erik ten Hag is out of excuses at Manchester United, though he’s nonetheless on the lookout for them as he makes an attempt to show he stays the supervisor to convey success again to Previous Trafford.

But whereas United’s beleaguered coach searches for mitigation, the smiling faces of counterparts Arne Slot, Unai Emery, Ange Postecoglou and Enzo Maresca solely serve to make his scenario worse as a result of they’re proving that managers do not all the time want time; they simply want to have the ability to win.

Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat towards Tottenham Hotspur — United’s third loss in six league video games this season — left the group twelfth within the Premier League, eight factors behind leaders Liverpool. Solely promoted Southampton have scored fewer objectives than the 5 that Ten Hag’s group have managed.

However regardless of being overrun by a Spurs group that arrived at Previous Trafford with strain rising on Postecoglou, Ten Hag claimed the first-half red card shown to captain Bruno Fernandes “modified the sport” after United had created a number of probabilities and Alejandro Garnacho hit the put up.

In isolation, Ten Hag was appropriate in his evaluation. However he failed to say Tottenham’s catalogue of first-half probabilities — additionally they hit the put up (on a Brennan Johnson shot) — and that Spurs may have been 4 objectives forward by half-time had they taken among the many alternatives that got here after Johnson had put them forward within the third minute.

The stats as much as the purple card had been damning and solely urged dominance by the visiting group. Spurs had loved 60.4% of the possession, made 260 passes to United’s 172, had 28 touches within the opposition field to United’s seven, and had 12 pictures to United’s three.

Selective reminiscence is turning into a theme of Ten Hag’s more and more predictable defence of his file as United supervisor. He has blamed accidents for a scarcity of consistency and dangerous outcomes — each group suffers from accidents — and pointed to the 2 trophies he has gained in two seasons, the Carabao Cup in 2023 and FA Cup final season. However that overlooks guiding the membership to their worst-ever Premier League end in 2023-24 and overseeing an array of humiliating defeats: a 7-0 loss at Liverpool, 4-0 at Crystal Palace, 4-0 at Brentford, 6-3 towards Manchester City and, already this season, 3-0 losses at residence to Liverpool and Spurs. United have scored just one league purpose at residence this time period.

Ten Hag’s has spent £550 million on transfers since arriving at Previous Trafford from Ajax in the summertime of 2022, with big sums lavished on the likes of Antony (£80m), Rasmus Højlund (£72m), Mason Mount (£55m), Manuel Ugarte (£50m) and Joshua Zirkzee (£36.5m). That outlay takes away any risk of the 54-year-old suggesting he has not been given the funds to rebuild his squad. Solely Chelsea (£1.1 billion) have spent extra on transfers since he took cost at United.

There may be now an actual risk that Ten Hag is getting into the ultimate days of his reign as United supervisor. Thursday’s Europa League journey to FC Porto can be a tricky one at the most effective of instances, and with a go to to Aston Villa within the Premier League simply three days later, solely victories will likely be sufficient for Ten Hag. Optimistic performances will imply little if United go into the worldwide break with out a win.

The main focus is now on United’s new soccer management group. United minority proprietor Jim Ratcliffe and director of sport Dave Brailsford selected to maintain religion with Ten Hag after the FA Cup last win towards Manchester Metropolis. They’re now supported by CEO Omar Berrada and director of soccer Dan Ashworth, who each assumed their roles through the summer time.

Sources have instructed ESPN that there’s a rising acceptance at United that the Dutchman is now under severe pressure, and the membership consider they’re well-prepared to make a change if outcomes and performances don’t decide up. However whereas the general public noises about Ten Hag from inside Previous Trafford have been supportive, the sight of Ten Hag’s group slipping additional away from the Champions League spots — they’re already six factors adrift of fourth-place Chelsea — have set alarm bells ringing.

What won’t assist Ten Hag’s case is his file at United in distinction to Emery at Villa, Postecoglou at Spurs and, to a lesser extent, the instant influence made by Slot at Liverpool and Maresca at Chelsea.

Emery took cost at Villa Park lower than two years in the past, with the group he inherited from Steven Gerrard fifteenth within the Premier League, simply three factors above the relegation zone. Emery will rejoice the second anniversary of his appointment later this month with Villa enjoying within the Champions League.

Postecoglou took cost of Spurs firstly of final season with the group ending eighth within the earlier marketing campaign and with the unenviable problem of rebuilding with out Harry Kane, who had left for Bayern. However Postecoglou, whereas not with out some ups and downs, guided Spurs to a fifth-place end final season and is now shaping a group with a post-Kane future.

Slot and Maresca have began extremely effectively of their new jobs, placing Liverpool and Chelsea firmly within the title chase. Even Mauricio Pochettino, who left Chelsea in Might after only a season in cost, delivered a better end than Ten Hag and gave Cole Palmer the platform to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

It exhibits that managers can have an on the spot influence if they’ve the talent set, character and conviction to take action. Ten Hag actually has the conviction that he’s heading in the right direction, however it’s debatable that he has the talent set or the character.

That is his group now. Six of the beginning lineup towards Tottenham, and all 5 of the substitutes used, had been signed by Ten Hag, whereas children Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have change into regulars underneath the Dutchman. They’re his gamers, however there’s not one of the chemistry or understanding that Emery, Postecoglou, Slot and Maresca have developed of their groups. In distinction, United resemble a group of sad strangers.

After Sunday’s defeat, Ten Hag was as soon as once more defiant, saying that he doesn’t fear for his job and including: “We’re multi functional boat collectively.” What Ten Hag failed to say was that the boat is rudderless and is heading for an iceberg except he can by some means flip it round. Time is working out.