Erik ten Hag Leaves Manchester United: Where did it all go Wrong?
31/10/2024 11:14:41
Erik Ten Hag has finally left Manchester United. What should have been done after the FA Cup win over Manchester City with a thank you and a goodbye was instead dragged out for another five months with the team and performances progressively getting worse under the Dutchman instead of better as Manchester fans had been assured.
Renewed Hope for 2024/25?
Things were supposed to get better for United this season. Under the new football structure and with another close to £200 million spent by Ten Hag, Manchester United were supposed to be getting a team on the up finally, with a playing style and philosophy that could take them back on their way towards the Top 4. Instead, what they got was an almost identical League record to the United team of 1973/74, a season in which Manchester United were relegated.
His claims of being the second most successful manager in England were on the face of it true. Two trophies in two seasons, but by the time he tried to claim that the 3-0 hammering by Spurs doesn’t really count, quite a lot of United fans who had believed his claims of progress and trusting the process had begun to wise up to the Dutchman’s failings. He survived the October international break when some thought that would be the end, but his time finally ended after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, a game they should have had wrapped up by half time.
There were some highlights under the former Ajax boss that can’t be dismissed. That FA Cup victory was a momentous day for United fans which came after an effective team performance by United, as they deservedly beat City on the day. The League Cup win in his first season was United’s first piece of silverware since the Europa League in 2017 under Jose Mourinho.
These were only fleeting highs for the club during Ten Hag’s reign and he leaves the club after 128 games in charge.
Why did it go wrong for Ten Hag
In his 128 games, Ten Hag won 70, drew 23 and lost 35. In the Premier League however, he won 44, drew 14 and lost 27 of the 85 Premier League matches he oversaw, averaging 1.72 points per game in the League. The only United managers with a lower points average in the Premier League were Ralf Rangnick and David Moyes. His loss percentage of 31.8% is only better than David Moyes, who lost over 32% of his games in charge.
Lack of a Defined Playing Style
The debate over what way exactly Ten Hag wanted his United team to play during his tenure is one that has raged for almost the entire time the 54-year-old was in charge at Old Trafford. He kept the view that he couldn’t play possession football as he had done in Ajax at Old Trafford, due to different personnel, but by the time he left United four of his first choice back five had played under him at the Dutch giants. He had moved so far away from the tactics that got him the job in the first place back in 2022, that for much of his reign there didn’t seem to be a style of play. The argument under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was that the United team relied on individual brilliance rather than any set patterns, and unfortunately for Ten Hag his spell in charge will largely be remembered for similar reasons.
Transfer Failings
Noone can dispute the fact that the Dutchman was well backed in the transfer market during his time in the United dugout. Ten Hag made 21 signings and spent over £600 million in five transfer windows at Old Trafford, of which only a handful, if even that, have been even mildly successful. Lisandro Martinez caught the eye when he first joined due to his tough and in your face defending style, but his performances have diminished over the last 12 months, while Casemiro was an important player for Ten Hag during his first season, but has since started to show physical decline that has meant his importance to the team has waned. Of his close to £200 million outlay this past summer, only Noussair Mazraoui has impressed, with new midfielder Manuel Ugarte barely featuring since his move from PSG.
"He survived the October international break, when some thought that would be the end, but his time finally ended after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, a game they should have had wrapped up by half time"
Too Many Bad Results
Ten Hag may have brought two trophies in two years, but he has also presided over some of the most humiliating Manchester United defeats in recent memory. The 7-0 drubbing by Liverpool just a week after winning the Carabao Cup quickly eroded any momentum. The 4-0 hammering by Crystal Palace brought United’s 13th Premier League defeat of last season as belief in the Dutchman faded for many United supporters. This season he has suffered two 3-0 defeats to Liverpool and Spurs, while he has overseen a yearlong winless run in the Champions League and Europa League, dating back to October 24th, 2023.
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✒️ Liam Lacey – Football and GAA Sports Expert
Liam Lacey is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA, horse races, and football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also).
Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and international football, offering expert opinions and match previews and predictions. Occasionally, even getting some right!
Last Updated on 31/10/2024
