Man Utd 2-3 Galatasaray: Erik ten Hag faces more questions as he hopes to buck the trend

In the aftermath of Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag finds himself in a familiar and unsettling position. The statistics that emerged after the final whistle painted a grim picture for the Red Devils, and Ten Hag had no choice but to acknowledge the severity of the situation.

For the first time in their storied history, Manchester United has suffered consecutive defeats to open a Champions League campaign. This is uncharted territory for a club accustomed to success on the European stage. Moreover, their struggles in the 2023-24 season extend beyond the Champions League. They’ve lost six out of their ten matches in all competitions, a startling statistic for a club of their stature. Perhaps even more alarming is the fact that they’ve conceded 18 goals in those ten games, the most at this stage since the 1966-67 season.

Statistics can be haunting, especially when they reveal a decline of this magnitude. We’ve seen similar downturns in the past for Manchester United managers. David Moyes faced the ignominy of losing at home to Everton for the first time in 21 years, followed by a home defeat to Newcastle for the first time in 41 years. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to grapple with the historic 5-0 loss to Liverpool at home. Louis van Gaal’s tenure saw a decline in Premier League wins and goals scored, and Jose Mourinho suffered his heaviest home defeat ever in the form of a 3-0 loss to Tottenham in 2018.

However, the concern isn’t just about the immediate future. It’s the pattern of these downturns that is unsettling. Manchester United, like a ship caught in a storm, often finds itself in turbulent waters when such spirals begin, and more often than not, the manager ends up being the one thrown overboard.

Erik ten Hag arrived at Manchester United with promise, coming off a successful stint at Ajax. Unlike his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he even managed to secure a trophy. The club invested in promising talents like Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund, reminiscent of their big-name signings of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago. However, the downturn in form this season has been swift and unexpected. While Solskjaer’s struggles only began in late September during his tenure, this campaign has spiraled out of control right from the start.

It’s a situation that leaves fans and pundits scratching their heads. The more things change at Manchester United, the more they seem to stay the same. There’s ongoing discontent towards the Glazer ownership, visible through in-match chants and social media backlash. Players have been criticized, and even the Old Trafford roof, notorious for leaking, remains unchanged.

The pivotal question now is whether Erik ten Hag can reverse this trend. Can the Dutchman, who enjoyed tremendous success at Ajax before taking the helm at Manchester United, provide the answers that have eluded his predecessors? According to Ten Hag, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

He acknowledges the difficult period the team is going through but emphasizes unity and determination. “We fight together and stick together, that is me, the directors, the team. Altogether we will fight. This is not us. We know we will do better,” he stated emphatically.

Yet, Ten Hag faces significant challenges on multiple fronts. Injuries have plagued his squad, particularly in defense. The absence of left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia has left a void that even last-minute replacement Sergio Reguilon cannot fill due to his own injury. The young Kobbie Mainoo, who could have been a valuable asset in central midfield, has also been sidelined by injury. Additionally, the broken foot of Lisandro Martinez has weakened United’s defense and limited the passing options for goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Then there’s the ongoing standoff with Jadon Sancho, which shows no sign of resolution, along with board-level decisions surrounding Antony and Mason Greenwood. Ten Hag’s insistence on signing Antony last summer has had financial implications that tightened the club’s purse strings this year. Moreover, the decision to part ways with David de Gea in favor of a ball-playing goalkeeper was made to align with Ten Hag’s vision.

Despite Andre Onana’s recent mistakes, Ten Hag remains confident in his abilities, pointing to his experience in Champions League semi-finals and finals. He believes Onana will bounce back.

As Ten Hag rightfully asserts, it’s not just about individual players bouncing back but the entire team finding solutions to salvage the season. The boos from the fans are a reaction to the results, not a wholesale disenchantment with the manager. However, patience has its limits, and Brentford’s visit to Old Trafford looms as a crucial fixture.

In the world of sports, where fortunes can change with a single game, Erik ten Hag and Manchester United face a daunting task. The challenges are immense, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that the club has the resilience to bounce back from adversity. Whether Ten Hag can be the catalyst for this turnaround remains to be seen, but his determination and belief in his squad are evident. The road ahead is uncertain, but in the world of sports, uncertainty is often the stage for the most remarkable comebacks. Manchester United fans will hope that this is one of those moments.

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More about Manchester United Crisis

• Manchester United’s official website
• BBC Sport – Football
• Erik ten Hag – Wikipedia
• Premier League official website
• UEFA Champions League official website