Chris Sutton believes Erik ten Hag is on shaky ground at Manchester United
Writing for The Daily Mail (h/t The Mirror), football pundit Chris Sutton believes Erik ten Hag might have to fear for his future as Manchester United boss after a poor start to the 2023-24 campaign.
The Red Devils have lost three of their opening five games and have looked far off their best. Their two wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest have also been unconvincing, raising several questions about the club’s ability to contend.
Ten Hag has also not been helped by his players with several of them embroiled in off-the-field issues. In many ways, one can say that all is not well at the Theatre of Dreams.
Mason Greenwood was sent out on loan following the backlash against his reinstatement while Antony is suspended until pending investigation regarding charges against him. Jadon Sancho has not made it any easier either given his public disagreement with Ten Hag after being dropped against Arsenal.
Sutton rightfully believes that Man United have not been good enough this season. The standards set at Old Trafford are high and sneaking in wins against two teams expected to fight off relegation will hardly get pulses racing.
“To have only won two of their opening five Premier League games — and they were lucky they won those — is not good enough.”
Sutton drew parallels with former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho’s travails at Old Trafford. The Portuguese tactician enjoyed a brilliant debut season but quickly lost control of the dressing room.
While Ten Hag has not yet managed to do so, he will need to rein in hostile elements and showcase a united front. Anything less could see the roster spin off into factions, doing more harm than good., –
“When Mourinho was chucking everybody under the bus, he had lost the dressing room. It is not at that stage yet for Ten Hag.”
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Manchester United need a rallying cry and the upcoming clash against Bayern Munich provides them with an opportunity to do just that. But then the Bavarians are arguably the most formidable side the Red Devils will have faced so far and cannot afford to be at anything but their best.
