Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is under pressure amid a woeful run of results to start the season.
It seemed unthinkable in the summer that Erik ten Hag‘s future would even be a point of discussion. Per The Guardian it isn’t yet up for debate at Manchester United, who insist the manager’s job is safe.
But it speaks volumes that this topic is even being discussed in the media, and by some supporters.
Sadly for Manchester United fans, it’s unsurprising. This is what happens when you lose six out of 10 games to start the season. We have seen this all unravel before, and it’s not pretty. Patience may eventually run out if results continue to slide.
Erik ten Hag exit would leave biggest mess yet
What would Manchester United look like if Erik ten Hag was sacked?
Well, dismissing the Dutchman could exacerbate Manchester United’s problems instead of solving them.
More so than sacking David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, this would leave the biggest mess yet.
United have gone ‘all in’ on Ten Hag’s approach, buying players he recommended personally, at huge cost. This would create it’s own problems for a new manager, as we have seen before.
We had hoped by now that United would have learned a lesson. The plan was to hire a proper director of football. Ralf Rangnick was lined up as a consultant, and then dismissed.
All power went to Erik ten Hag, and the results of this were fine in the first season, and shockingly bad so far this season, to the point it may cost him his job if it doesn’t improve.
The rebuilding job for a new manager would be extremely difficult, and give yet more excuses to players who have been through multiple managers during their time at Old Trafford.
But the biggest woes come from off the pitch. Manchester United ran out of money in the summer, and had none to invest last January.
If a new manager came in, there would likely be no money to spend in January. We can’t go the interim route again, that would be a disaster.
The never-ending takeover saga is a further distraction with no sign of resolution, and would hamper the efforts of any new manager.
United need to dig in and support Erik ten Hag. Getting rid of him would leave a gigantic hole at Old Trafford, removing a manager who is trying to eradicate player power, and essentially give more back to the under-performers who gradually need shipping out.
Arsenal have been here, sticking by Mikel Arteta in the midst of a horrendous run in his first full season. Now they are reaping the rewards.
Perhaps it needs a step backwards to move forwards. Missing out on European football next season would give more time on the training pitch for Ten Hag and his players, and prompt a clear out. These are both things United need.
This doesn’t give Erik ten Hag a free pass
None of this is to say Erik ten Hag is unsackable. What if Manchester United lose the next five games? What if the team lose the next 10 games?
At what point does the tolerable become intolerable? We saw this at Chelsea last season when they desperately wanted to keep new appointment Graham Potter, but the losses kept piling up, and eventually they had enough.
Manchester United will give Ten Hag time. But patience is not limitless.
No matter the gigantic mess which would be left behind.
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