Manchester United suffered a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. It was the Red Devils’ second consecutive defeat in the league, after securing a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham on the opening day of the season.
There were question marks over Erik ten Hag’s future towards the end of last season, when Manchester United finished eighth in the league. These were countered by winning the FA Cup in May, and was offered a new, albeit short, contract.
Given yesterday’s defeat, and the manner in which it was, the question marks have quickly returned and perhaps are bigger than ever.
Valentijn Driessen, writing in his column for De Telegraaf, makes it clear he believes the 54-year-old could be soon heading towards the exit door. The Dutch journalist now claims “His time at United is over.”
At the weekend, Manchester United lost to a side that appointed his compatriot, Arne Slot, as their new manager for this season. Liverpool had no new signings in the squad and have still managed to win all three games so far.
In the build-up to the clash against the Reds, Ten Hag insisted that Manchester United were the most successful team over the past two seasons, behind Manchester City.
“Although despite discussions with other candidates, the club ultimately expressed its confidence in Ten Hag. How long this confidence will last remains to be seen,” he said.
“Something like that can happen, but the way in which Liverpool, who were not even playing at their best, played Ten Hag’s team into a pathetic pile, rubbed extra salt in the wound. It could easily have been 7-1 or 8-2. The Brazilian Casemiro was the target, but it is Ten Hag who sets him up and continues to choose him. Although this time he intervened during half-time.
“Ten Hag faces the same ordeal as Casemiro. The English media have sharpened their knives, and this also applies to the army of analysts with many former English stars, and former top United players such as Roy Keane. Ten Hag previously banned journalists who criticised him and his players or stopped speaking to them.”
Driessen went on to say: “Ten Hag gives everyone ammunition to fire.”
“According to the club management, Ten Hag was the best trainer for United. The new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stepped in with big plans, but his judgment regarding Ten Hag is a mistake. His time has passed.”
It would be incorrect to say this is the Dutch media turning on Ten Hag, because they did that quite a while ago. His repeated interviews, where he absolves himself of blame and talks down others, haven’t done him any favours in the Netherlands.
