“Eras can come to an end.” That was the statement Erik Ten Hag made in his first Manchester United press conference over 18 months ago. Last night’s thrilling 4-3 victory against Liverpool marked a significant milestone for Erik Ten Hag, securing his 62nd win and the highest win rate (60.78%) for a Manchester United manager after 102 games. Despite almost missing a comeback in regular time due to Marcus Rashford’s last-minute miss, the team’s advancement to the semi-final against Coventry at Wembley had Ten Hag commending their character and determination at Old Trafford. “This could mark a turning point, despite our missed chances throughout the season,” Ten Hag reflected, using a crucial match against Arsenal as an example of lost opportunities for decisive moments.
Embed from Getty ImagesSince INEOS’s takeover announcement on Christmas Eve, speculation about Ten Hag’s future at Manchester United has been widespread among established media outlets, with many expecting a change in management next season. Despite this, INEOS has remained silent on these speculations. However, a significant portion of the fanbase strongly supports Ten Hag, advocating for his continuation into a third season, supported by a solid recruitment strategy and football structure. David Ornstein of The Athletic recently noted INEOS’s current lack of intention to replace Ten Hag, contrasting with Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, who reported on INEOS’s rumored exploration of potential candidates. The premature managerial changes speculated by the media since Christmas appear both unjust and misguided to many observers.
Erik Ten Hag has faced numerous challenges this season, including criticisms regarding the lack of a definitive playing style, inconsistent results, and struggles in crucial matches. However, attributing these issues solely to Ten Hag seems unfair, especially considering the unprecedented injury challenges that have forced constant lineup changes, disrupting the team’s ability to establish a consistent playing style. Key players like Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire, intended to solidify the team’s defensive foundation, spent much of the season sidelined with injuries. This, coupled with the absences of Maguire and Varane, forced Ten Hag to adapt with available players like Jonny Evans, who, despite his commendable performance, is not typically recognized for his passing skills. This situation has inevitably led to a fluctuation in playing style, underscoring the complexity of the challenges faced by Ten Hag in molding Manchester United’s approach amidst such constraints
The discourse surrounding Erik Ten Hag has sometimes been merited, particularly regarding his tactical decisions during matches and his management of fundamental team dynamics, exemplified by his interactions with notable players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. Despite his recent goal, Antony’s hefty £80 million investment remains a point of contention for its perceived lack of value. While some fans may disagree, I believe a strategic pivot by INEOS could significantly benefit Manchester United. The club would prosper under a unified recruitment philosophy that transcends individual managerial tenures and focuses on a consistent type of player profile suited to the club’s long-term vision.
The inconsistency in Manchester United’s recruitment strategy post-Alex Ferguson has been a fundamental issue. Players acquired to fit into Louis van Gaal’s possession-oriented system were at odds with the direct and counter-attacking approaches favored by Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This strategic dissonance has led to underperformance and difficulties in offloading players burdened with excessive wages. The fault lies not with the managers who came and went but with a recruitment strategy that lacked coherence and foresight.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs Erik Ten Hag and INEOS chart a new course for Manchester United, the impending recruitment and sporting strategy overhaul could be pivotal. With the potential addition of Dan Ashworth and Jason Willock to guide these efforts, Manchester United is poised on the cusp of a transformative era. This strategic realignment, focusing on sustainable and philosophy-aligned recruitment, could be the catalyst for Manchester United’s future.
Pressure will undoubtedly grow on Erik Ten Hag if he fails to deliver Champions League football and is ousted from the FA Cup against Coventry. However, whatever happens in the final two months of this season, it would be less productive for the club to change managers, and their focus should be on other issues within the club as previously discussed. It would be counterproductive for INEOS to act like Clarke did with Chelsea and change a manager. Erik is still early in his tenure, and with so many issues on and off the pitch he has had to contend with, it’s unrealistic to expect change to happen so soon. In addition, Manchester United players fight for this manager, unlike previous regimes where they would down tools; those players won’t do that under Erik. The future is bright at Manchester United, and undoubtedly, the Erik Ten Hag era has just begun.
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