After months of stress, Manchester United has at last parted ways with Erik ten Hag. Sunday’s defeat at West Ham marked the breaking level, with United falling to a 14th-position space in the Premier League.
The VAR resolution in that match, deemed unsuitable by extinct ref Mark Halsey, gave the impression to grab the defective luck theme Ten Hag on the whole cited. But modified into once defective luck if reality be told the significant motive at the aid of United’s struggles below him? Or did the Dutch supervisor, no subject flashes of doable, simply fail to dwell up to the club’s expectations?
Facets and depressed originate
In assessing Ten Hag’s affect, looking at components per recreation over his 84 suits paints a annoying image. His groups averaged excellent 1.7 components per recreation, such as about 65 components over a 38-recreation season.
That’s a pointy tumble from the Sir Alex Ferguson days when United groups customarily ever fell below 75 components, and even José Mourinho’s era, the set they constantly scored over 69 components. Compared to his predecessors, Ten Hag’s sage modified into once no longer excellent lackluster nonetheless one of the least impressive in latest memory for the club.
His fight to gather components constantly modified into once evident early on this season. Even earlier than United confronted powerhouse groups esteem Manchester City or Arsenal, they came across themselves 14th on the table, with a negative aim differential after 9 games.
Other managers, such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, confronted equally shaky starts nonetheless managed to rally their groups to high-four finishes. Ten Hag, nonetheless, gave the impression to lack the momentum to drag United out of this rut.
Defensive troubles
One of the most obtrusive concerns below Ten Hag modified into once United’s defense. They allowed more targets per season than any team below the last five United managers, and opponents on the whole regarded as if they had been scoring with ease.
United’s defense modified into once porous, allowing opponents near to 30 touches in the penalty box per recreation – a sage even worse than Solskjaer’s duration, which modified into once beforehand United’s weakest defensive sage.
This defensive mess stemmed from a aggregate of things. Ten Hag gave the impression unable to steadiness his backline’s aggression and group, ensuing in United’s uncommon distinction: they allowed a excessive different of shots and touches in the box without managing to counter with their obtain attack.
Most groups either concede a few shots by being aggressive or allow weaker shots by packing the box. United below Ten Hag managed to plot neither.
Struggling attack and tactical inconsistency
United’s attacking play below Ten Hag confirmed doable nonetheless customarily ever delivered. His groups on the whole regarded tiresome in the closing third, failing to noticeably change sure alternatives into targets. Despite an expected targets (xG) per recreation payment end to the most efficient from earlier managers, valid targets lagged.
United’s failure to capitalize on possibilities positioned them as one of the Premier League’s most underperforming groups offensively.
Ten Hag had map to United as an recommend of excessive pressing and “proactive football.” But this imaginative and prescient never materialized. A straightforward measure of pressing – passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA) – confirmed that United ranked 15th in the league below Ten Hag. As a exchange of excessive pressing, they gave the impression to give opposing groups time to plot plays, allowing an unusually excessive pass-completion payment.
This low-energy manner to pressing gave the impression at odds with what Ten Hag had promised, stressful followers and ensuing in a lack of identity in United’s gameplay.
Did Ten Hag leave a correct team at the aid of?
While it’s straight forward to level out the flaws, Ten Hag did leave at the aid of some glimmers of hope. Below his leadership, younger abilities esteem Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho emerged, hinting at a promising future for United’s squad.
There’s no denying that Ten Hag helped form a brand contemporary spine in the team, with gamers esteem Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, and Rasmus Hojlund ready to plot true into a dynamic core.
Moreover, Ten Hag managed to clinch two trophies during his time – the 2023 League Cup and the 2024 FA Cup. His FA Cup victory, namely against Manchester City, modified into once a excessive level that showcased his doable to lead United to thrilling games, despite the truth that they had been uncommon. It’s a signal that, given time, he also can wish been in a position to construct one thing more consistent.
Now not the worst coach ever, nonetheless far from the most efficient
So, is Erik ten Hag the worst coach ever? The resolution is complicated. He confronted significant challenges, from boardroom battles to sudden injuries, and probably, as some point out, a club in structural decline. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, five corpulent-time coaches comprise tried – and failed – to lift United aid to their glory days, suggesting concerns that extend beyond educating.
Ten Hag’s sage modified into once depressed nonetheless no longer unparalleled. Managers esteem David Moyes and Louis van Gaal also confronted failures, even though Ten Hag’s struggles with fundamental tactics, defense, and creating a cohesive model originate his sage namely disappointing.
And while he wasn’t “the worst,” Ten Hag’s tenure also can match down as one of the more forgettable ones, highlighting that even a promising coach can falter below the stress of managing a club esteem Manchester United.
