The axe has finally fallen on Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager.
His last official engagement was in London, just as his first was. It ended in defeat, mirroring his start, though he was only observing at Selhurst Park on May 22 when United lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in Ralf Rangnick’s last game as interim boss.
The day after, Ten Hag addressed the media at Old Trafford for the first time, speaking confidently about the challenge ahead. The former Ajax manager insisted that joining United wasn’t a risk, despite the turmoil he appeared to inherit.
He has frequently reminded everyone of his achievements, noting that only Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has surpassed his two trophies since the summer of 2022. However, some statements Ten Hag made that Monday morning haven’t stood the test of time.
One was regarding the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool under Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, and whether their era could end with the two still in place. “Yes,” Ten Hag replied curtly.
The other was about his approach, which he described as “huge” and promised would be rolled out to staff and players. “You will see,” he said.
However, for the sixth time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013—and for the fourth time since Guardiola joined City in 2016—United have again concluded they have the wrong man at the helm. A major reason is that Ten Hag’s ‘plan’ rarely materialized, except in the FA Cup final at Wembley last season, when a well-executed strategy led to victory over Manchester City.
In that match, United played perfectly: drawing defenders to the ball, playing precise long passes to quick players, and supporting them. It was a thrilling and well-deserved success. But outside of that victory, Ten Hag’s approach often seemed like just words. His repeated mentions of ‘project’ and ‘game model,’ and his insistence on sticking to the ‘plan,’ became fodder for ridicule on social media.
A memorable critique came from Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, following a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace: “Manchester United are one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League,” he said.
Ten Hag’s tenure also included notable defeats, such as:
A four-goal loss to Brentford in August 2022
A 6-3 defeat by Manchester City in October 2022, where United trailed by four at halftime
A record 7-0 loss to Liverpool in March 2023
A stoppage-time loss to Chelsea in April after holding the lead
A close FA Cup semi-final against Coventry, requiring penalties after a squandered 3-0 lead.
In contrast, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, appointed five months after Ten Hag, implemented a clear plan that has brought success. Ten Hag, meanwhile, continued to talk about his.
A former United coach, speaking anonymously, commented on the absence of a clear playing style. “Erik is a coach; we all thought he’d coach in a specific way. But it’s hard to see what that way is. Are United a pressing team? They don’t have the players for it. They use two defensive midfielders, but then the full-backs crowd the midfield, and when opponents counter, neither defensive midfielder is effective.”
After a March win over Everton, Ten Hag dismissed concerns about United facing numerous shots, saying the visitors’ “low xG [expected goals]” didn’t indicate a defensive problem. Yet United’s defensive issues are hard to ignore, having conceded three or more goals on 24 occasions since Ten Hag’s arrival—the most by any Premier League club in that span.
Despite around £600m spent on new players, no arrivals could be called unqualified successes. Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hesitated to sign Antony for £30m; Ten Hag pressed for him, and United eventually paid £82m for the Brazilian winger. Other than a recent Carabao Cup win over League One Barnsley, Antony has only made a few substitute appearances since May.
Ten Hag reportedly aimed to play from the back, but the squad seemed ill-suited for such tactics. David de Gea’s discomfort with the ball at his feet led Ten Hag to let his contract expire, replacing him with Andre Onana from Inter Milan. Yet Ten Hag’s attempt at this approach backfired when errors left Onana exposed.
With new owners Ineos aiming to curb such chaotic decision-making, the club brought in Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth, and Jason Wilcox for leadership roles this summer. The trio accompanied United on their U.S. pre-season tour, where former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy joined as Ten Hag’s assistant.
From the start, Ten Hag faced challenges, including disciplinary issues with Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, who both ultimately left United after clashes with Ten Hag. The manager also managed Marcus Rashford by benching him for a tardy meeting, though Rashford scored after being subbed in.
Last season, Ten Hag’s injury list was extensive, occasionally due to questionable medical advice. A lack of fit left-backs led to a lineup without regulars Luke Shaw or Tyrell Malacia. Despite a summer overhaul of United’s medical department, Ten Hag faced significant injuries in crucial matches.
Ten Hag is a personable figure; he has shared stories with journalists on trips to Spain and Los Angeles, and at the Football Writers’ Dinner in Manchester, he stayed to chat with reporters long after collecting his FA Cup award. However, in official settings, Ten Hag’s communication faltered. United staff mentioned that he preferred blunt questions, but his responses increasingly failed to satisfy scrutiny.
Despite his insistence that he and United’s hierarchy were “on the same page,” the question wasn’t if Ten Hag would leave, but when. A senior United figure was surprised he wasn’t dismissed at last season’s end and even more so that he lasted into October. Many in and outside of Old Trafford agreed: once momentum builds against a manager, it’s only a matter of time.
Many United players may feel regret at his departure. The Daily Telegraph reported in April 2023 that Tottenham didn’t pursue Ten Hag in 2021 due to perceived charisma concerns—a factor that may have influenced his time at United.
No major fallout occurred, but a lack of connection or shared understanding of Ten Hag’s goals contributed to the decision.
