- Erik ten Hag is leading Manchester United to a dismal run of form.
- The coach’s future is in jeopardy after just months of extending his contract.
- The Red Devils’ board of directors has 4 issues that need urgent consideration.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has bought time to stay in charge after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by Aston Villa on Sunday.
At Villa Park , United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and executives Sir Dave Brailsford, Dan Ashworth, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, as well as former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Were in attendance to watch the game.
Despite the draw, Ten Hag has been performing very poorly since the start of the 2024-2025 season and his future remains unclear. The following 5 issues are important for the “Red Devils” board of directors to urgently consider if they hope to make a change.
1. Has the defense improved?
Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire surprisingly started against Villa. While Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez were substitutes for a number of games. A decision Ten Hag has taken to heart. Since Ten Hag was
appointed in the summer of 2022, no Premier League team has conceded more than three goals in all competitions in the league, with United conceding 24 times in total. In the 62 games since the start of last season. They have conceded more than two goals in 31 of those games. The most of any Premier League side. Ten Hag is currently without a
regular centre-back pairing, which is a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible to provide stability at the back.
2. Offensive game problems
If United’s defensive record has seen them drop to 14th in the Premier League table. Their attack has been dismal too, with the Red Devils having scored just five goals in their first seven league games, with only struggling Southampton having managed fewer (four).
United’s forwards have also struggled this สมัคร ufabet season, with Marcus Rashford having scored four goals in 11 games, Rasmus Hojlund having scored once in five games and new signing Joshua Zirkzee having scored once in 10 games.
It is certainly United’s worst run since 1972-73. When they managed just four goals in their first seven league games.
3. Overall poor form
Manchester United and Ten Hag will be happy with the draw at Villa Park after Unai Emery’s side enjoyed a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek. But the overall result was disappointing. Ten Hag has handed
United their worst start to a season since 1989-90 and the thought of a combined £300m-worth of substitutes Antony, Casemiro, Martinez, De Ligt, Cerci and Manuel Ugarte on the bench is a serious one. United are now winless in their
last five games in all competitions, the first time this has happened in five years. The post-international break schedule starts with a home game against Brentford, an away game against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League. A trip to West Ham United and a home game against Leicester City, which is considered very tough.
4. Is the international break the right time for change?
The international break is usually a good time to make a managerial change. But Ten Hag will be hoping the two draws at FC Porto and Villa will buy him some time. As he could have been sacked had the last game ended in defeat. The break has
given the United board and Ten Hag time to talk things out and find a solution, and ahead of the Villa game, Ratcliffe insisted that the former Ajax boss’ future is not his decision alone.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Simone Inzaghi and Kieran McKenna have all been considered, with Ten Hag set to remain in the job.