December 22, 2024
Manchester United’s 2022/23 season showed glimpses of a promising and lasting growth for the first time since José Mourinho’s departure from the club, as the first campaign under Erik ten Hag’s tenure fairly lived up to his assertions of eras coming to an end.
The Dutch international came on board after a chaotic period that three managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Micheal Carrick (interim manager), and Ralf Ragnick couldn’t salvage.
Whilst he had a pre-season and transfer operations to prepare for what’s to be the toughest challenge in his managerial career, the back-to-back humblings in his first two games emphasized the Red Devils on-field problem that was worsened by Cristiano Ronaldo’s saga and the then captain—Harry Maguire’s dip in form.
Although mixed reactions did trail how the 53-year-old handled Ronaldo’s situation, impressive subsequent runs and remarkable results against top teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona and the eventual Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle emphatically ended the club’s five-year trophy drought and earned ten Hag the support and belief from the necessary quarters.
If there was any warning to the ephemeralness of this form, the 7-0 humiliation to Liverpool, the Europa League ouster by eventual champions Sevilla and other needless losses would have served as a pointer, but the Champions League qualification ticket and a third place finish covered those blushes and unknowingly ushered the beginning of this downward spiral.
It’s no news that the Mancunian giants are having one of their poorest forms in history, there however seems to be an endless debate about who ought to bear the most heat between the Glazers family, John Murtough, ten Hag, or his white and red army.
In any sane organization, responsibilities for actions and inactions are shared, but in United, the Glazers have deservedly be at the receiving end of their underperformance which mightn’t be applicable in this case, looking at ten Hag’s position at the club.
Post Ferguson era, United has employed the services of eight coaches, but none has received the financial backing and free role ten Hag is currently enjoying at the club. In less than two years at Old Trafford, the ex-Ajax manager has spent about £407m on signings, a little bit less than Ole’s £441m in the two and a half years he spent at the club as manager.
Of course, you can make a case for yesterday’s market isn’t today’s market, but the unrestricted way ten Hag operated has been evident in his first summer operation that saw him sign about five players, including co ex-Ajax signee Lisandro Martinez and £86m Antony who has had more failed showboating attempts than a good game in a United jersey.
There’s been nothing big club-like about United’s performances this campaign, and even if excuses for injuries want to be made for the manager, the lack of a clear game pattern or tactical approach has been evident in the team’s matches.
Terrible performances aside, ten Hag’s man-management skill has also come under heavy scrutiny, looking at the discrepancies in handling Sancho and Antony’s situation.
In the interview that led to the Englishman being suspended, the manager said: “On his performance in training, we didn’t select him. You have to reach the highest level every day at Manchester United. You can make choices in the front line, so in this game, he wasn’t selected.”
But when asked about Antony’s underperformances, he shielded the Brazilian in a way he didn’t for the latter player.
“I’m a fighter and Antony is a fighter as well. He has the confidence. He’s brave and I’m confident he’ll bring the performance. He’s the right player for us,” the United’s gaffer said.
There won’t be any need to raise eyebrows if this favoritism was helping the team in any way. Just earlier this month, United suffered back-to-back home losses by a 3+ goals margin for the first time in 61 years.
To add to that, all seven of the club’s wins in the Premier League this season have been by one goal, and Victor Lindelof became the fourth United defender to score a winning goal this season after their scrappy win over 18th place Luton Town on Saturday—further highlighting the lukewarm performances of ten Hag’s trusted attackers.
Having 13 PL goals as Erling Haaland this season surely doesn’t bode well for the Red Devils, and the fact that 3 time UEFA Champions League winners are now bottom of their group in the competition after 4 games is more embarrassing.
“Manchester United resemble a team reaching the end of a cycle, not one still rebuilding under a relatively new manager,” Jamie Carragher opined via The Telegraph.
Perhaps, the only reason why Erik ten Hag is comfortable in his position as Manchester United’s manager despite this run-down is the uncertainty revolving around the club ownership. And while clamoring for the Dutchman’s sack mightn’t be the best decision, it’s difficult to make a case against those in support.
Surely, 51 wins, 21 losses and 9 draws in 81 matches and a better win rate than United’s last successful manager—José Mourinho looks like a pretty good record for the Dutchman.
Yet, despite becoming the fastest United manager to reach 30 Premier League wins last weekend, his candid remarks encapsulate the prevailing sentiments: “Not bad, but I can’t celebrate that. We have other concerns, we have to perform better.”
Ousted out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United, struggling in the PL, and a leg out of the UCL with a trip to Galatasaray and a clash with Bayern Munich, Manchester United have it all to do if they’re going to turn their season around after the international break.
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