Well, well, well! What do we have here? Another managerial saga swirling in the drama vortex that is Manchester United. Poor Erik ten Hag! One moment, he’s lifting the FA Cup like a kid who just won the chocolate factory tour – and the next, he’s finding himself in the unemployment line faster than you can say “Glazers Out!”
Now, I must say, ten Hag’s tenure has had more ups and downs than a whack-a-mole machine at the fair. Last season, it felt like the board was playing a game of “Will They, Won’t They?” But in the end, they hung on to the Dutchman like he was the last pair of socks on a cold winter day. However, it seems like that decision was about as smart as trying to pet a lion after a steak dinner.
Many Defeats
Ah, the defeats! Twenty-seven of them to be precise! That’s nearly as many as your average club playing in the pub league. I mean, can you believe it? Just think about this – the last time Manchester United lost to West Ham, I reckoned my sandwich was expired. And as for that 0-7 thumping by Liverpool? I thought it was an extravagant way to order takeout! They seem to have taken the phrase “less is more” a bit too literally when it comes to scoring goals.
And remember that 4-0 drubbing by Brentford? Oh boy, it set the alarm bells ringing louder than a fire truck at a car crash! You know it’s bad when even your own fans are cringing at the sight of these results. It’s like watching your mate attempt to impress a date by requesting pineapple on their pizza – confusing and utterly dismal.
Terrible Start to the New Season
Fast forward to the new season and, oh look! Just 11 points after nine matches. What genius thought it would be a good idea to start the season like a dodgy opening act at the Glastonbury Festival? United’s attacking prowess has become a punchline, with fewer goals than a meeting of philosophy majors discussing Plato’s “Ideal State.”
The fact they managed three wins against teams like Fulham and Southampton feels like the highlight reel of mediocre dining options. Dull goalless draws? That’s like a vegetarian dinner invite where someone forgot the salad. “Thanks for nothing!” yells every fan simultaneously.
Lack of Progress
But hey, there was “optimism” going into the transfer window! Just what we needed: more hope stored up like children before Christmas, only to rip open the presents to find a pair of socks. Ten Hag was supposed to be the new managerial messiah, but it seems like he’s just serving lukewarm coffee at Manchester United Café. There’s still no identity, no sparkling banter – just bland, forgettable football.
They’ve actually scored 40 points in 27 matches in 2024! That’s about as inspiring as a motivational poster featuring a sloth. Meanwhile, Chelsea is over there, making it rain goals while United is left wondering how to catch a break. Have they checked under the couch cushions? You never know what might turn up!
Poor Performance in Attack and Defense
Let’s talk about defending. Ah, the art of keeping the opposition at bay. Moyes famously called for improvement back in 2013, and here we are, 11 years later, and it’s like trying to teach a cat how to fetch. The truth is, United’s defense is comical; they allow more chances than a toddler at a candy store! The xG is a sad 42.4, and their defensive record is about as solid as a chocolate teapot.
Let’s break it down: under ten Hag, they’re scoring less than a nursery playground. Ralf Rangnick had fewer goals per game but could at least claim he was a part-time manager. Ten Hag, on the other hand, has made conceding look like a fine art – one can hardly be shocked when they leak goals in such spectacular fashion.
Disastrous Match Endings
Once upon a time, United scored late goals like a kid scoring extra points in video games. Now, they’re the team that gives away points like a charitable organization on bonus day! Seven out of ten losses came from conceding late, which makes one wonder – have they got a hidden talent for theatrical failures?
Sure, there’s an argument to be made about referee stoppages – but some would say it’s less about the minutes added and more about an alarming collective lapse in concentration. It’s as if they’ve taken a class on “How to Lose Focus in Critical Moments.”
In summary, it’s been tougher than a two-dollar steak for ten Hag at Old Trafford. With more ups and downs than a rollercoaster and the fans trapped in a cycle of hope and despair, the pressure is on! Let’s see if Manchester United can find a way to turn this sinking ship around. Here’s hoping they catch a fish instead of just throwing back the same old line!
Erik ten Hag was on the verge of being sacked by Manchester United throughout last season. But, despite negotiations with other specialists, the management of Manchester United decided to leave the coach after winning the FA Cup. Moreover, in the summer the Mancunians extended the contract with the Dutchman and made it clear that they were counting on him in the future. However, the new season started very poorly – 14th place in the Premier League after nine rounds and not a single victory in the Europa League. As a result, United fired ten Hag. This has been brewing for a long time – there are at least 5 reasons that explain the decision of the Manchester United management.
Many defeats
The Mancunians played 85 Premier League matches under ten Hag and lost 27 of them. This is one of the worst performances of any United manager since the departure of Alex Ferguson. The Dutchman’s defeat percentage (31.8%) is the second worst among all United managers in the Premier League era after David Moyes (32.4%), who spent only 34 matches at the helm of the team. The Mancunians had no stability in their results. They lost to opponents of different classes. The last time for the specialist was a defeat in the match against West Ham. You can blame everything on a controversial penalty, but the fact is that Manchester United simply could not score more than their opponents.
United were often thrashed in those 27 defeats. The Mancunians lost to Bournemouth last December (0:3), Crystal Palace in May this year (0:4), Liverpool in March 2023 (0:7) and 0:3 at home to Liverpool each. and Tottenham this season. There were more dramatic and less one-sided defeats, but they were still difficult to accept. In April, Manchester United lost to Chelsea with a score of 3:4, despite being in the lead. In hindsight, a crushing 4-0 defeat to Brentford in Man United’s second game under ten Hag had already set an alarming tone for his reign.
Terrible start to the new season
After nine matches in the 2024/25 season, United have just 11 points. Only once in Premier League history have they started worse – in the 2019/20 campaign, when they gained just 10 points after nine Premier League rounds. United have only 3 wins this season – over Fulham, Brentford and Southampton. These are not the most impressive opponents. There were also dull goalless draws with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, which were unlikely to inspire fans. Just eight goals scored is the Mancunians’ worst performance in the Premier League at the start of the season. The lack of goals scored, as well as the game in general, created additional pressure on ten Hag.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Eric ten Hag
Lack of progress
There was a certain optimism among fans in the off-season. Many of them were happy with Manchester United’s performance in the transfer market, and management seemed finally to be able to rein in the coach, reducing his influence on the club’s operations. But by and large, nothing has changed. Ten Hag was barely holding on to his job, Mancunians were still underpowered in attack, the team had no identity and results continued to be disappointing.
In 2024, Manchester United scored 40 points in 27 Premier League matches. This is the eighth highest score among all teams in the Premier League and only 5 points more than Fulham and Bournemouth scored. Over the same period, United scored just one more goal (43) than they conceded (42). Even Chelsea, arguably an even more chaotic club, managed to score 19 more goals (62) than they conceded (43) in 2024. Despite the manager’s statements about the importance of returning to high standards, Manchester United remained a mediocre club in all respects.
Poor performance in attack and defense
Moyes said back in 2013 that United needed to improve in everything, including passing accuracy, scoring chances and defending. 11 years have passed, but the Scotsman’s words still remain relevant. In 2024, Mancunians created 42.4 expected goals (xG) chances, which is just enough to rank eighth in the Premier League. Over the same period, they allowed 52.5 expected own goals, the second-worst rate (excluding promoted/relegated teams) behind West Ham (54.1). This highlights that Manchester United under ten Hag was not effective enough either defensively or offensively.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine
Under ten Hage, United averaged 1.45 goals per match in the Premier League. This is the second-worst performance of any manager since Ferguson’s departure. Only Ralf Rangnick had fewer (1.38 goals per game). Likewise, only Rangnick’s team (1.38) conceded more goals on average per game than ten Hag’s side (1.31) in the Premier League over the same period. However, the German worked at Manchester United much less than the Dutchman. In addition, under ten Hage, the team’s shot conversion rate was just 9.7% in the Premier League, making him the only manager in the post-Ferguson era not to break the 10% barrier.
Disastrous match endings
One of the main characteristics associated with Manchester United during Ferguson’s glory years was an almost uncanny ability to score late in matches. United’s relentlessness in the final minutes became a hallmark of the club, as did the image of Ferguson furiously banging his watch at the referees. It’s fair to say that the Mancunians don’t have the same aura anymore. Now they themselves have become the team from which their opponents take points in the last minutes of matches.
Seven of ten Hag’s 27 Premier League defeats came from goals United conceded in the 90th minute or later. This is 25.9% of the total number of defeats. Among managers with at least 20 defeats in the Premier League, no one in the competition’s history has lost a greater proportion of their matches to goals scored in the 90th minute or later. It can be assumed that in some cases it was simply bad luck. Some will highlight the fact that more late goals are being scored than ever before due to referees adding a lot of time, and this is true. But when a team loses focus so often, it can lead to bad consequences, especially for the coach.
Sergey ZAVALKO, based on materials from The Analyst
St rate since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. Ralf Rangnick, who had an admittedly tough tenure, managed to achieve a higher average with a significantly lower overall performance. The current crop of players under Ten Hag seem to have gone backward, failing to capitalize on the chances they create while simultaneously conceding goals at an alarming rate.
“Defensive solidity,” as they say, is just not part of United’s vocabulary anymore. It’s akin to an old car that sputters and shakes whenever you take it out for a drive; fans have grown increasingly weary watching their team implode under the slightest pressure. The club’s defensive leaks have made it feel less like a game of football and more like watching a slow-motion train wreck.
Disastrous Match Endings
Late goals have become an Achilles heel for United. Once known for their ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the Red Devils have developed a knack for surrendering hard-earned points. Seven out of their ten defeats have come from conceding late goals, making fans wonder if it’s part of a hidden agenda to perfect the art of self-sabotage. Time and again, they’ve failed to maintain concentration, leading to moments that feel ripped straight from a horror film.
This alarming trend of last-gasp collapses has become endemic, invoking the frustration of supporters who remember the glory days when Manchester United would fight until the final whistle. Instead, they’ve become the embodiment of missed opportunities, as rivals seize on their indecision and hesitancy in critical moments. It’s like watching a horror film where you scream at the characters to just leave the haunted house; yet, Manchester United seems all too willing to stay and face the inevitable doom.
the dismissal of Erik ten Hag comes as no surprise given the myriad of issues plaguing Manchester United during his tenure. With the weight of 27 defeats, a dismal start to the new season, stagnation in progress, poor attacking and defensive performances, and late-game collapses, the club finds itself at a crossroads. The once-great club desperately needs a reset—an overhaul that can rejuvenate not just the players, but also the spirits of the passionate fanbase that still yearns for glory days. Here’s hoping for a swift turnaround, because right now, the only thing Manchester United seems to be catching is a cold streak!
