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Stay or sacked? Erik Ten Hag and his uncertain future at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has frequently asserted he is an integral part of INEOS’ plans for Manchester United.

However, following his team’s underwhelming performance in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, where they surrendered a 3-0 lead and needed the lottery of a penalty shootout to eliminate the Championship side, it would be self-deceptive to deem the Dutch manager untouchable.

Calls for ten Hag to be dismissed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the new football hierarchy have been growing over the course of the season. Nonetheless, a number of individuals, including former United defender and pundit, Gary Neville, have strongly advocated for the 54-year-old to remain in his position, especially considering that he guided the club to its second final in as many seasons.
While it seems that Ten Hag still has the support of the United board, their patience appears to be wearing thin. Under the Dutchman’s leadership, Manchester United have at times appeared to be moving in the right direction, having won the League Cup and finished 3rd in the league in his maiden season.

However, the 2023-24 season has been largely catastrophic, and the club needs a major turnaround to improve its fortunes.
The FA Cup final offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disappointing season, but a final against rivals and current holders, Manchester City, makes the outcome highly unpredictable.
The question remains: would sacking Ten Hag be the right decision, or should he be given more time to rectify the situation? FLOS examines the pros and cons of sacking the Dutchman.

Why Erik Ten Hag should continue at Man United

Stop the Continuation of a vicious cycle

Manchester United’s pattern of sacking head coaches in hopes of reversing their fortunes has become a familiar cycle since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. From David Moyes to Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the strategy has repeatedly failed. The continuous turnover of coaches, coupled with leaks from the dressing room, seems to have subtly empowered the Manchester United squad, fostering a belief that they can oust coaches at will, all while their hefty wage packets remain secure.

To see different results, Manchester United may have to break away from their past approaches and try something new.

Stability key for new era

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover of the club will necessitate an ideal manager to spearhead a new project, and Erik ten Hag has demonstrated this capability during his tenure at Ajax.

Although he may not have experienced the best of spells during his two seasons at Manchester United, the Dutch manager has previously shown that when placed in the right footballing environment, he can deliver. With the INEOS takeover promising a significant shakeup within the club’s hierarchy, ten Hag could be the ideal candidate to be entrusted with leading this new direction.


Immediate success amid club chaos

There’s no escaping the reality of a torrid season. Mistakes have been made, and both the players and the coach bear responsibility. When Erik ten Hag arrived from Ajax, he wasn’t expected to immediately secure the Premier

League title for Manchester United considering the circumstances under his predecessor, Ralf Rangnick, who guided the club to its worst-ever Premier League points total (58), amidst a myriad of issues on and off the pitch. Ten Hag managed to steer the Red Devils back into the Champions League, ahead of teams like Liverpool and Chelsea, and even secured the League Cup (their first trophy in 6 years) all in his maiden season. He also boasted 23 victories, taking down rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, Under his tenure, his attacking style of play led to the team amassing the 3rd highest number of shots on target that season according to Fotmob data, and scoring 98 goals in all competitions- the 5th highest in Europe.
While things might have taken a steep turn for the worst this season, ten Hag appears to be the right man for the club in this current moment of transition, and arguably deserves a chance to prove that this torrid season was an anomaly in this developing project.


Why ETH should be dismissed

Record Lows

It’s simply been a season to forget for Manchester United fans. From the poor performances and results to dressing room sagas, the Red Devils have often made the headlines for the wrong reasons. They have currently failed to win five of their last six league games and are in a battle to secure European football next season. United have struggled to find the back of the net for the bulk of this campaign, with playmaker Bruno Fernandes the only player in the squad currently on double digits (10) and collectively the team has only scored 52 goals in 34 games this season (12th in the league).


After a rocky start, new signing Andre Onana has settled in and arguably justified the hefty price tag paid to bring him to the club. However the keeper has entered the record-books for unfavourable reasons, with United having already faced over 550 shots this season- more than they have in any other 20 full seasons recorded by Opta. They constantly look porous at the back and struggle to entertain the fans on a consistent basis.


The Red Devils currently sit in 6th place but are at risk of equalling their worst-ever Premier league finish (7th in 2013/2014). Moreover, ten Hag’s side have already equalled a club-record of most losses in a campaign (12) and are 6 goals away from conceding the most goals in the club’s league history (57).

The numbers do not look great (neither do the performances). United have been susceptible to conceding late goals this season- the opposite of a reputation etched in Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the club. Thus far, ten Hag’s side have dropped crucial points due to their inability to retain leads. This includes the 4-3 defeat against Chelsea, with the Blues’ equaliser and winner coming in the 90+10 and 90+11 minutes respectively. Brentford and Burnley most recently snatched late equalizers to rob the Red Devils of a win. Whilst there was grumbles and vast dissatisfaction of the playing style during Van Gaal and Solskjaer’s reigns, this feels like a new low, with the fan base more frustrated (and divided) as ever. Irrespective of the mitigating factors this is a new low for Manchester United, with the manager naturally taking the bulk of the responsibility. The cries for a change are justified as surely the only way from rock-bottom is up.


Top Players Regressing

Erik ten Hag’s man-management skills have come under scrutiny. The 54-year-old successfully made a mess of handling the situations of two of his elite players—Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.

While it’s fair to argue that both players could have contributed more to salvage the situation, it’s evident that the current success they’re enjoying with their respective teams highlights potential shortcomings in ten Hag’s approach to player management.

Since their departures, players once considered key assets, have experienced noticeable regression, raising questions about the manager’s ability to motivate and handle his squad effectively.

Let’s be clear, Manchester United’s squad doesn’t currently possess the quality needed to clinch the Premier League title. However, they still have top-tier players who, when at their best, can step up and deliver in crucial moments.

The challenge for ten Hag lies in the fact that United’s key stars have regressed this season. Marcus Rashford, particularly, has failed to live up to expectations, tallying just 13 goal involvements in his 41 outings, a far-cry from his career-high 30 goal season just a year ago. Similarly, Casemiro, once a standout performer, has experienced a decline in form compared to his impressive displays last season.

Captain Bruno Fernandes appears a shadow of his former self, the player who initially dazzled the Premier League under Solskjaer. Similarly, the injury-laden Raphael Varane has not maintained the same level he displayed during his time at Real Madrid.

Managers are expected to elevate players, but there hasn’t been enough of that at United this season. Bar wonderkids Alejandro Garnacho and Kobe Mainoo, who have proven to be rays of sunshine in what has been a dark campaign, everyone seems expendable ahead of the summer transfer window.


Underperforming Signings

Manchester United have fully supported ten Hag, acquiring players like Casemiro, Andre Onana, Antony, Mason Mount, and Sofyan Amrabat at his request. This level of backing is something previous managers like Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal must envy.

However, questions have arisen about Ten Hag’s talent assessment, as the performance of these players has been underwhelming. While Rasmus Hojlund has sometimes proven to be a bright spot, his goal return of 8 goals in 26 matches still leaves a lot to be desired, Lisandro Martinez showed promise last season but has endured an injury-laden season. Overall, the recruitment strategy has not yielded the desired results.

United seem to have wasted significant resources on players who have not met expectations, highlighting the need for a more effective recruitment approach. The appointments of Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox by INEOS should steer these problems back in the right direction, but that may also mean the departure of the Dutchman.


Proven Managers Available

Manchester United might consider parting ways with ten Hag due to the availability of managers of high calibre.

Thomas Tuchel will become a free agent in the summer after agreeing to leave Bayern Munich following a turbulent period at the Allianz Arena. Graham Potter, while not on the same level as Tuchel reputation-wise, is still highly regarded despite a challenging stint at Chelsea. Antonio Conte, although not aligned with United’s traditional style, is a proven winner with an impressive trophy record. Additionally, Hansi Flick and Julen Lopetegui are also potential candidates for consideration.

While it may seem easy to applaud Ten Hag for his UCL qualifications and cup finals Manchester United have reached to in his 24 months in charge, a closer examination of the club’s transfer dealings, his tactical approach, and the overall situation suggests that it would be mutually beneficial for both parties to part ways to prevent further decline. Manchester United could risk a free fall if Ten Hag remains in his role as manager, something the INEOS group would be keen to avoid.

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