Man United’s Erik ten Hag verdict is clear but one blatant issue still remains
Manchester United have had a poor start to the season which has inevitably piled the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag
There is an overwhelming sense of deja vu already this season for Manchester United supporters despite the Reds being just three matches into the new Premier League season.
Erik ten Hag ended last season with question marks surrounding his future and already he is facing those same questions after two defeats from the opening encounters. MEN Sport ran a poll with more than 7,000 responses from United fans surrounding the Dutchman and the results were damning.
Of the respondents, 66 per cent of them replied ‘No’ when asked if Ten Hag was the right man for the job at United. Just 32 per cent of those surveyed believed he would be manager of the club come the end of the season.
Before the defeat to Liverpool, Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada sat down with the Manchester Evening News to discuss the state of things at Old Trafford. Both men were keen to stress that Ten Hag had their full support and that they were pleased he was given a new contract in the summer.
While both Ashworth and Berrada are answering genuinely, it does not hide the fact if performances don’t improve quickly, Ten Hag will be on the chopping block. But one factor that seems to very rarely be taken into consideration if Ten Hag leaves is who will replace him.
Currently, there is no option who is simultaneously universally liked and realistically willing to take on the role. In a dream world, Zinedine Zidane would be perfect for the job but there have always been reservations as to whether he would move to the Premier League due to his lack of English.
Beyond Zidane, Gareth Southgate appears to be the popular choice inside Ineos but his arrival would create tension with the fanbase. Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have both been mentioned before, as has Mauricio Pochettino but arguments can be made as to why they would not be right at this time either.
Ultimately, there is no one option on the table who could harmonise the fans, boardroom and players so why bother changing? At this stage, sacking Ten Hag would just add another expense which takes away valuable money from the transfer pot.
Until that changes, United fans will need to sit tight and back the incumbent.
