“As a professional coach, an injury to ONE is injury to all… Hearing the date Erik ten Hag will be sacked has weakened me”: Mikel Arteta weakened by Man United’s decision to sack Erik ten Hag as he reveals the date
Disgusting, embarrassing and pathetic were just a few of the words used to describe Manchester United after the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford.
Just a few weeks ago the spotlight was on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou following back-to-back losses but now Erik ten Hag is the manager facing growing and potentially insurmountable pressure.
Despite only scoring once, Tottenham ripped United apart during a one-sided opening 45 minutes and the contest felt all but over when the erratic Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a late lunge on England’s James Maddison.
Impressive Spurs scored twice more after the break, inflicting a painful defeat on Manchester United and piling the pressure on Ten Hag.
Now into his third season at Old Trafford, Ten Hag is still struggling to prove he has the minerals to bring the glory days back to Manchester United.
In the coming days he will no doubt publicly and privately point out he has lifted two major trophies since taking the job in the summer of 2022, but time is surely running out for Ten Hag to avoid getting the chop.
The Spurs defeat has left United just 12th in the Premier League – closer to the relegation zone than the top-four – and in an all-too familiar position in the table given their woes last season, when they slumped to their worst-ever finish.
A lack of progress over the summer break was painfully clear to see during their opening-night clash with Fulham, when only a late and rare goal from summer signing Joshua Zirkzee spared Ten Hag from early scrutiny.
Humbling defeats to Brighton and Liverpool followed, with Manchester United only really clicking so far this season against newly-promoted Southampton and League One side Barnsley.
United’s weaknesses were exposed in back-to-back draws with struggling Crystal Palace and Dutch side Twente but even so Sunday’s dismal defeat to Tottenham felt like a tipping point.
A panel of pundits tearing into Manchester United on a Sunday evening is far from an anomaly but the scathing nature of the comments does not bode well for Ten Hag.
