Erik Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United brought with it the promise of exciting, progressive transition-football. Indeed, he has delivered on this – though not quite as expected. Watching Crystal Palace’s rapid advances on Monday, or Sheffield United’s aggressive attacks at Old Trafford recently, or even Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final, one can acknowledge Ten Hag’s impact. Regrettably, it appears the most exhilarating counter-attacking displays are being served up by opposition teams, much to the delight of United fans, but detrimentally to Ten Hag’s likelihood of employment retention.
Likened often to a “script”, his tenure might be reaching its denouement, with notable instances of symmetry– a career outlined by two memorable 4-0 losses in London and identical struggles from 30 and 32-year-old Christian Eriksens in the middle of the park. Unless a shock win in the FA Cup final against fierce rivals Manchester City emerges, or a surprise reprisal from the new governing body, the likelihood of Ten Hag remaining at season’s end is slim. And frankly, it is justifiable – it’s improbable that such a level of consistent poor performance would be tolerated. This season has seen the most losses since 1977-78 and most goals given away since 1976-77. Even in the time it took to read this, André Onana has probably saved another four shots.
However, what compounds the situation are not just the statistics, but the overall visual performance, such as the overwhelming disarray noticed whenever an opposing player charges at them, or the dependable Jonny Evans falling a full ten yards behind the rest of his defence. And of course, Casemiro’s futile attempt to slide tackle Michael Olise on Monday – as forgettable as walking into a room and immediately forgetting the purpose – only enhanced the sense of disappointment.
Everyone is well-aware of the reasons behind United’s constant conceding of goals. The aggressive press by the forward trio, the lack of push from the defensive line and the inevitable large spaces in the centre of the pitch, hard even for midfielders superior to Sofyan Amrabat to cover. Manage to bypass the initial press, and you are rewarded with 60 yards of clear space. Opportunities for full-backs to overlap, rapidly alternating plays and penetrative passes present themselves effortlessly. The consequences of this are obvious: copious crosses, shots, chaos and outrage.
If this is apparent even to a random YouTube user, then it can safely be presumed that a former mentor at Bayern Munich, Ajax, and PSV Eindhoven – once touted as Pep Guardiola’s successor at Manchester City – is privy as well. So, the question arises: why has the issue not been resolved? One possible answer is personnel related. Lisandro Martínez, an acquired defender designated as Ten Hag’s on-field leader, only participated in nine league matches all season, with Luke Shaw in 12 and Tyrell Malacia in none.
This represents the majority of Ten Hag’s preferred defensive line. Without them, he is left with defenders who are more reactive and provide a last line of defence like Evans, Victor Lindelöf, and Harry Maguire or non-defenders like Amrabat and Casemiro, all of whom are unable to efficiently execute a high-line defensive strategy. Could Ten Hag have attempted it regardless of the unfit personnel? Could he have entirely altered the setup, resorted to a low defence block, or completely discarded his fundamental principles? Could United have provided him some respite with a prompt signing in January? It’s possible. However, we must acknowledge that none of these were perceived as certain solutions.
Next, we delve into what José Mourinho eloquently coined as “football heritage”. In terms of figuring out the ideal playing style for a United team, Ten Hag has probably outdone all his predecessors, instead of simply superimposing his concepts onto the existing squad. His declared ambition to mould United into the “best transition team in the world” is derived not just from his own principles but from a scrutiny of what the fanbase – and notably, United plc – expects. A game that involves swift counterattacks, agile and lively offence, invigorating wingers, heroic comebacks, a multitude of goals and last-minute thrill.
[Man Utd bear the brunt of a crushing defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace, adding to Ten Hag’s woes]
In a less sarcastic tone, one must concede that United has triumphed on many occasions. Winning seven games in the final 10 minutes, scoring eight times during the first 10 minutes of their games. However, they also relinquished their lead 11 times and allowed 13 goals in the 87th minute or later, across all competitions. The team may not benefit from an average of 3.4 goals per game, but it undoubtedly enhances the thrilling spectacle of the United franchise’s global fanbase.
In these turbulent undercurrents, players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have emerged as key performers. Rasmus Højlund is getting his bearings in an unforgiving league, while Diogo Dalot and Willy Kambwala have shown considerable growth. Bruno Fernandes has resiliently stood by their side. However, some players like Onana, Amrabat, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Mount are grappling with challenging times, but their talent isn’t completely negligible. In summary, despite the rocky year, United has clinched a trophy, secured a spot in two final tournaments, and is possibly a few alterations away from being highly competitive.
That being said, this doesn’t necessarily satisfy United’s lofty ambitions. Their cycle of reinvention continues with potential new managers such as Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, and Graham Potter. New arrivals and renewed aspirations. Grant the new coach some room to manoeuvre. Allow the newly enlisted team members to familiarise themselves. The euphoria of late victories and heroic performances. The return of Rashford. However, questions persist on the quality of their football and whether their performance has actually improved. Reports of disgruntled players, training dissatisfaction, premature cup exits, and image losses abound. Rumours swirl around the identity of an unnamed source leaking dressing room news. Gossip channels buzz with the name of Mark Goldbridge. Official declarations from the club and another managerial hiring process kickstarts. Welcome to the perpetual flux that is Manchester United.