Ten Hag Under Pressure as Man United Struggle to Find Form
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are facing a daunting run of fixtures, and the Dutch coach could do with a calm international break after the horror show against Liverpool 11 days ago. But with stars like Casemiro linked with transfers away and new boy Matthijs de Ligt struggling for form, Ten Hag’s side are in desperate need of a turnaround.
De Ligt’s woes continued for the Netherlands, where he was taken off in a 2-2 draw with Germany. Coach Frank de Boer admitted that the centre-back is currently in a "period where all his mistakes are being punished." This comes as a blow to Ten Hag, who is already under pressure to deliver results.
Meanwhile, new signing Manuel Ugarte is looking to prove himself after shaking off a fever to play for Uruguay. The midfielder said, "This last month has been complicated because it was a difficult negotiation and United promised to take me and now I’m going to have to prove it." With United’s £198.8m-worth of new faces yet to gel, Ten Hag will be hoping that Ugarte and others can step up.
The Red Devils face a hectic run of seven games in 22 days across three competitions before the next international break. A return of one win from the opening three matches is not the start they were looking for, and the pressure is mounting on Ten Hag to deliver.
In the summer, United’s owners, led by billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, splashed out £198.8m on new signings. However, with only one win to their name, it’s clear that the team is still finding its feet. The £113.2m loss last season shows how far the new ownership has reached to give Ten Hag their backing, but with the team struggling, fans are starting to lose patience.
Ten Hag’s future at the club is under scrutiny, and with several managers reportedly considered for the job before he was given the nod, it’s clear that the club was willing to take a risk on the Dutch coach. But with results not improving, it’s only a matter of time before Ten Hag’s position comes under threat.
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