The demonstration at Old Trafford after Manchester United’s second successive 3-0 Premier League defeat was grim. Erik ten Hag and his players walked around the pitch in pouring rain to thank the few loyal fans, demonstrating a sobering commitment to their club amidst turbulent times. Manchester United players Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana were among the last to leave the pitch, signalling perhaps, their determination to revive United’s season.
Erik ten Hag, following the defeat, brushed aside the apparent crisis looming at Manchester United. Instead, he seemed poised for a reset, which he believes will begin at the Europa League game against Porto. Ten Hag’s comments reflected his faith in the team, the leadership, and the decisions they had collectively taken to improve United. He notably disregarded all questions about his tenure at United, focusing on their next game instead.
Major stakeholders in United echoed Ten Hag’s sentiment. Omar Berrada, United’s CEO, and Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, publicly showed their support for Ten Hag. The executives ensured that selecting Ten Hag was a well-thought-out decision, in line with the goal of revamping the functioning of the organization in the long term. They reiterated the necessity of allowing these changes to reflect in the team’s performance and disregarded the idea of replacing Ten Hag.
However, continued poor performance in coming games would put the decision-makers under pressure. Two former United captains, Gary Neville and Ashley Young, suggested that the players hold a meeting without Ten Hag—indicating the tension within the team. It seemed there was a lack of confidence in the team strategy, demonstrated by their stressful gameplay and lack of aggressiveness.
The red card of Bruno Fernandes was a turning point in the disastrous game when Tottenham was continuously penetrating United’s defence. United played poorly, with disjointed press movements and multiple endeavours to pass from the back turning into loopholes that Tottenham easily exploited. The team’s poor game chemistry led to several missed opportunities which further fueled their frustration.
Despite a tough beginning to the Premier League this season, ten Hag remains unfazed. He is focused on a reset and on drastically improving results. The team has less than a week to demonstrate a turnaround in their play and strategy—beginning with the Europa League game against Porto. Meanwhile, the pressure builds on the team’s decision-makers as fans and football pundits alike question coach ten Hag’s suitability for United.
