Erik Ten Hag Set Himself Up For Failure

Erik Ten Hag Set Himself Up For Failure

James Caughlin

Another week, another manager departs and in the case of Erik ten Hag, it is probably a case of “it’s about time” amongst the Manchester United faithful.

The Dutchman came to Old Trafford with plenty of fanfare, as you would expect, but like so many of his predecessors, he never quite managed to return the Red Devils to the glory days of the Ferguson years.

It was not without it’s highlights though as the Dutchman did deliver a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup to the club, but the consistent success just was not there for him.

For the most successful Premier League club of the last 30 years, finishing in eighth place, with a historically bad defensive record and backing it up with a poor start to the current campaign, the sacking felt inevitable.

Especially when you include some of the worst defeats imaginable, with this 7-0 thrashing at Anfield one of the low points in United’s history.

His final match in charge was another disappointing defeat (albeit somewhat controversial) away to a West Ham side that had failed to flatter up to that point this season.

That result left United languishing in 14th place with City and Liverpool already doubling United’s points tally through nine games.

But it was not just the poor results that directed ten Hag to the exit, it was the way he continually signed players, spending a whole lot of money on players that just didn’t work out.

Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony were his first major signings, followed by Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hoijlund the following year.

In his final transfer window he spent big on Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and his protégé from his Ajax days, Matthijis de Ligt.

Although that last name might have been what doomed him in the past.

All of those players were brought in to be greater than what they have been so far, and when there are so many players underachieving, the blame inevitably shifts to the manager.

But his tenure will also be marked by some of the departures, starting with club icon Cristiano Ronaldo who fell out with the Dutchman very quickly.

Nine days after that comment, Ronaldo was released by Manchester United to begin his Middle Eastern adventure.

Safe to say former United goalkeeper David de Gea wasn’t a fan of the manager who replaced him then released him in July 2023.

Not to mention sending Jadon Sancho out on loan first to Dortmund and then to Chelsea.

Trying to revolutionise a club requires some tough calls to be made, but it seems like every one ten Hag tried to make just never worked out.

Combine that with a poor set of results on the pitch and this was inevitable, now United are on the hunt for their sixth full time manager since July 2013.

Perhaps the next one will break Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s record of 168 matches.