Pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag as Manchester United future hangs in balance

Erik ten Hag is shouldering massive pressure on his shoulders following an inconsistent season at Manchester United, and his future at Old Trafford hangs in balance despite winning silverware in the last game of the recently concluded campaign.

Former player and coach at Carrington, Mike Phelan, acknowledges that he has not met the Dutch coach in charge of the club and insists that he should not continue as the manager of the club following the season that he has sustained at Manchester United. 

Mike Phelan calls for Change

When Mike Phelan speaks, you listen. He has been the number two for legendary United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson, and he has kissed the Premier League title three times in the position. He spoke about how the club deserves to be in a title-contesting position and the importance of managing Manchester United as a club. 

Phelan did insist that Ten Hag won the FA Cup out of the blue and that he played with tactics that he tried earlier in the season, but he also spoke about how Ten Hag stuck to tactics that did not work for a prolonged period of time. 

He is also not buying into the injury excuse and speaks about how Ten Hag should have been long gone. 

Manchester United legend Mike Phelan weighs In

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former United assistant manager said:

It started with the host asking if he has met ETH, where he says, “No, I haven’t met ten Hag.”

Phelan continues: “Past regimes, I would have said he would have been gone. Yes, the ownership is still there, but I think this new regime is looking for continuity. I think that’s a different attitude; whether that gives Ten Hag the opportunity to go again, I’m not sure.”

When asked whether he thinks Ten Hag has done enough to be in charge of the club, he said,No, I don’t. That is just the way I see it. We are talking about Manchester United here. It’s a big decision. An important decision.

“Ten Hag has been forthright and honest. He obviously sees things internally; he’s got a group of players where he is going to get some out and some in. He’s confident he is going to take it to another level, and that’s great.”

“He won the FA Cup out of the blue; I think nobody expected it, playing in a style he should have thought about a little bit earlier in the season.

“This season, you can’t say anything other than that it’s been very disappointing. Not just the performances; look at the stats; the stats tell you everything—goals conceded, goals scored even—it’s been unusual.”

Phelan is not buying injuries as an excuse, adding: “Lots of examples of players being unavailable, but it’s Manchester United at the end of the day; you get on with it, you set your stall out, and I think that’s come up a bit short.”

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Phelan has been honest about his assessment of ETH’s time at the club. Now it is to be seen what the owners think of the Dutch gaffer.

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