Erik ten Hag has entered his third season steering the helm at Manchester United.
As the final whistle loomed at Estadio do Dragao, Erik ten Hag seemed to be flirting with disaster.
Manchester United, after squandering a two-goal advantage against Porto, were on the brink of a dispiriting loss.
Although such a defeat might not have marked the end of Ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford, it surely would have put his role on a precarious precipice.
Yet, just when fate seemed sealed, Harry Maguire rose like a salmon to head home a crucial equalizer, slightly easing the weight off Ten Hag’s shoulders.
“We’ll get there,” Ten Hag assured TNT Sports. “Don’t judge us just yet, but at the season’s end.”
“We’re in the works, and our improvement is inevitable. We’ve reached finals in previous seasons, and our fighting spirit persists.”
Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League, with buzz following a meek 3-0 home drubbing by Spurs threatening his position, Ten Hag’s tenure might face judgment a tad earlier without major improvements.
“You notice the bond and camaraderie between the team and the staff,” Ten Hag emphasized.
“There’s a shared drive among the players—they’re united, fueled by a robust spirit and a common goal. But defensively, we must notch it up a gear.
“We notched up three clean sheets not too long ago, so we can defend like champs; those habits need reclaiming.”
Just how grim is the situation? Number crunching Ten Hag’s leadership
Despite Ten Hag’s steadfast conviction in his and his squad’s capabilities, the stats suggest the naysayers might hold water.
Since the Dutchman took the reins in 2022, United tops the unenviable chart, conceding three or more goals in a game 24 times across competitions—a Premier League high.
Moreover, in their 62 matches since the previous season’s dawn, United has leaked in two goals in 31 occasions—the peak amongst current Premier League squads.
Up to now this season, they’ve kept four clean sheets, but for a side aiming for glories domestically and in Europe, conceding twice per game is far from ideal.
Indeed, despite scoring three goals in their last four European away matches, United ended up with two defeats and no wins.
The Porto draw exemplified yet another pesky pattern—coughing up leads.
Now without a victory in five European encounters, despite being two goals up in three, it’s a concerning stat.
In fact, United have squandered leads on their last four trips where they held a two-goal cushion in Europe.
Given they’ve already faced scrutiny concerning their striking potency this season, defensively caving while leading doesn’t bode well—leaving windows for adversaries to claw back. ‘Ten Hag on a knife’s edge’
Though staving off defeat in Portugal, Ten Hag remains steeped in scrutiny ahead of Sunday’s clash at Aston Villa.
Staying put post-summer, after an eighth-place finish was somewhat mitigated by an FA Cup victory, Ten Hag confronts increasing pressure as the 54-year-old grapples with yet another shaky start.
ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden doesn’t foresee Ten Hag being axed even if United stumbles at Villa Park, albeit conceding flexibility with monetary angles might play a role.
“I’d be taken aback if he lost his spot,” he shared with BBC Radio 5 Live. “Finances are part of the puzzle.”
“Manchester United banks on him steering a turnaround – precariously on the tightrope he may be.”
How long he continues to tread without tangible progress, however, remains a riddle.
“The players resemble students leaving a baffling math lesson—a disconnect lingers,” Ogden elaborates.
“There seems to be frostiness between Ten Hag and his squad, lacking charisma at the helm of a premier club is a hurdle.”
To best a rejuvenated Aston Villa reveling in their iconic triumph over Bayern Munich, Ten Hag must kindle inspiration within his camp to evade a fourth league defeat in seven outings.
“Erik’s tough; he’s shown resilience, but Villa Park is an uphill battle,” echoed former Manchester United mid-fielder Owen Hargreaves to TNT Sports.
“It’s a formidable test, and a way to rebound is essential.”
“Pre-game chatter spotlighted their goal drought, but today defensive vulnerabilities stole the show. Address one issue, another arises,” Hargreaves observed.
“There’s a laundry list of predicaments, given his tenure isn’t exactly fresh. Questions are stacking up.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
