By Joe Aura, Aurajoe6@gmail.com
“Liverpool and Manchester City play fantastic football, but you will always see an era come to an end — I am looking forward to a battle with them”
The writing was on the wall. Erik ten Hag’s journey at Manchester United had a few bright spots, but the cracks began to show early. After a dismal start to the season and a string of embarrassing losses, fans and pundits alike began to question how he managed to hold onto his position for as long as he did. Despite calls for his head, he clung on, perhaps buoyed by his past successes or the board’s belief in his ability to turn things around. In the end, it wasn’t enough.
The Inevitable
The reasons for Erik ten Hag’s sacking are as clear as day. Under his leadership, Manchester United often looked more like a disoriented group than a cohesive team. Each match seemed to introduce new levels of confusion, with tactical missteps, baffling substitutions, and a struggle to establish a consistent playing style. The team was a far cry from the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson—a shadow of its former self.
Arguably, Ten Hag’s biggest criticism was his inability to instill a clear philosophy or style of play at Old Trafford. Under the Dutchman, United was a “moments” team, relying on individual brilliance rather than cohesive play. This was in stark contrast to the cohesive, attractive style he built at Ajax. Managers like Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, Unai Emery at Aston Villa, and Arne Slot at Liverpool established clear identities for their teams despite less time in charge. Meanwhile, Ten Hag appeared to stumble through matches, relying on big individual moments to score goals rather than a clear tactical pattern. Tactically, he was found out many times. Just last week, he surprised fans by deploying Mazraoui—a fullback—as a No. 10 in a Europa League game, resulting in a 1-1 draw against 10-men Fenerbahce.
Despite significant investment in new players, many of Ten Hag’s signings failed to adapt to his vision, leading to a chaotic season. How he managed to last as long as he did is a question even the most loyal United fans are still trying to answer. The squad often looked disjointed, lacking the fighting spirit that once defined Manchester United.
While Ten Hag brought in high-profile players like Casemiro, Varane, and Sancho, many simply didn’t live up to the hype. The inconsistencies on the pitch resulted in a mediocre league standing and early exits from key competitions—an outcome that was unacceptable for a club of United’s stature.
Fans, still reminiscing over Peter Drury’s poetic narration of Cristiano Ronaldo’s reunion with Manchester United—”Madeira, Manchester, Madrid, Turin, and Manchester again. Restored to this great gallery of the game, a walking work of art, vintage, beyond valuation, beyond forgery or imitation”—were left puzzled. How could a team boasting stars like Ronaldo, Sancho, Pogba, Casemiro, Varane, and De Gea perform so poorly?
Ten Hag oversaw the spending of around £615 million ($800 million) on players since his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022. In the Premier League, only Chelsea has spent more in that time. Yet, few of the signings were a success. Many were either Dutch players familiar to Ten Hag or had previously played in the Netherlands. Just this summer, United spent around $240 million on five new signings, including two Netherlands internationals, Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, and another, Noussair Mazraoui, who played under Ten Hag at Ajax. Undoubtedly the biggest flop has been Antony, who followed Ten Hag from Ajax for $95 million but barely made an impact.
Despite Ten Hag’s credentials and early promise, his project quickly unraveled, becoming the subject of ridicule among rival fans. How did he survive this long? That’s a mystery only those in the boardroom can explain.
Dressing Room Conflicts
Another factor that led to Erik ten Hag’s downfall was the turmoil in the dressing room. The atmosphere behind the scenes was anything but harmonious, with frequent reports of conflict and clashes among players. High-profile outbursts, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview criticizing the club and Ten Hag, only added fuel to the fire. The fallout was swift and public, leading to Ronaldo’s abrupt departure—a move that divided fans worldwide.
It didn’t stop there. Jadon Sancho, another star signing, took to social media to air his grievances after being dropped from the squad, hinting at deeper issues between players and management. These public spats painted a picture of a fractured team, with egos clashing and a lack of unity on and off the pitch. For a club as storied as Manchester United, this level of internal conflict was a clear sign that things had spiraled out of control.
Despite Ten Hag’s efforts, he could not quell the unrest or create a cohesive environment, and the dressing room disharmony translated directly to inconsistent performances on the field.
Words That Came Back to Haunt Him
Ten Hag’s confident remarks about ending Liverpool and Manchester City’s dominance did not age well. While he managed to beat Liverpool once, United ended up conceding a humiliating number of goals in other encounters. Though he did halt Manchester City’s domestic reign for a brief moment with an FA Cup win, such moments of joy were rare. A win is a win, but the fans could hardly savor the success before another disappointing result dampened their spirits.
Some die-hard supporters celebrated Ten Hag’s sacking, chanting, “The Devils are back!” But even the most optimistic knew the job was far from done. After all, many of the current squad members were brought in by Ten Hag, meaning the next manager will inherit players molded in the Dutchman’s vision. Can someone else get the best out of them, or is this another era of mediocrity?
Achievements Amid Chaos
Amid the chaos, there were achievements that shouldn’t be overshadowed. Ten Hag did deliver two trophies in his two seasons—an FA Cup and a League Cup—bringing some joy back to Old Trafford after years of drought. Some even argue that his two-year stint outshone Mikel Arteta’s early seasons at Arsenal. But any sense of superiority faded as the Red Devils plummeted down the table, currently sitting in a lowly 13th place.
Ten Hag’s bold claim about ending the dominance of clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City didn’t materialize. Though he managed to beat them occasionally, the Red Devils suffered numerous humiliating defeats. For every highlight, there seemed to be two lowlights.
A Nod to His Ajax Legacy
There will be sympathy for Ten Hag, who might have been destined to fail because he was a good coach in the wrong place at the wrong time. His entire tenure was marked by upheaval and behind-the-scenes change, whether it was the ownership saga or the recent adjustment to new leadership under Jim Ratcliffe. However, Ten Hag had plenty of money to spend, and he should have done better given the quality of players at his disposal.
Ten Hag arrived at Manchester United off the back of a successful stint at Ajax, where he masterminded stunning victories over European giants like Real Madrid and Juventus. His Ajax side played a brand of football that was beautiful, disciplined, and lethal, taking them to the Champions League semifinals. He collected multiple league titles in Amsterdam, cementing his reputation as a top-class coach. But the job at United was always going to be a different beast, so tough that even the legendary Zinedine Zidane was rumored to have turned it down.
The Future for the Hornless Devils
Ten Hag will leave United with a couple of trophies but far too many big defeats and troubling statistics. United is currently enduring its worst-ever start to a Premier League season—14th place with 11 points after nine games—following its worst finish of eighth in the Premier League era. The 7-0 loss at Liverpool last season was the heaviest defeat at its fiercest rival, its worst competitive defeat in over 90 years, and surely the low point of Ten Hag’s tenure.
With Ten Hag out, the question is: where does Manchester United go from here? The club’s problems run deep, and simply swapping managers won’t solve them overnight. But for fans, there’s a flicker of hope—a chance that the next appointment could be the one that finally turns things around.
While Erik ten Hag’s tenure has ended in disappointment, Manchester United’s journey isn’t over. The next steps are crucial. The board must make a calculated decision, bringing in someone who can instill a winning mentality and give the fans something to believe in. Otherwise, the Devils might find themselves in a familiar position next season, facing the same issues and enduring the same frustrations.
To Manchester United fans: keep the faith. The struggles may seem endless, but every great team has its revival. If there’s one thing to learn from Erik ten Hag’s time at Old Trafford, it’s that even in the darkest moments, there’s always a glimmer of hope. The road back to glory is long, but it’s not impossible.
