Erik Ten Hag Facing Potential Dismissal: Is There a Way to Salvage His Position?

The Dutch manager is currently facing job insecurity following yet another dismal defeat. However, there are strategic steps he can take to reverse the fortunes of Old Trafford. Betimate provides insights into six crucial actions that Erik ten Hag needs to undertake to bring an end to Manchester United's unfortunate streak and secure his position.

By: Frank Merino

10/07/2023 03:43

What does Erik Ten Hag need to do to salvage the poor form?

In 1993, Manchester United received a rather hostile reception upon landing in Istanbul to face Galatasaray, with a banner reading 'Welcome to Hell' and throngs of unfriendly fans. Three decades later, they find themselves back in this Inferno, and there seem to be no apparent exit routes.

Just when it seemed like Manchester United's tumultuous season couldn't get any worse, their 3-2 defeat at home to Galatasaray on Tuesday introduced a new level of suffering. They conceded three avoidable goals, witnessed yet another Andre Onana blunder, and endured a Casemiro red card. In addition to this, Galatasaray fans infiltrated the home section at Old Trafford, and the Turkish club's directors celebrated with great enthusiasm.

What's even more concerning is that Manchester United has failed to secure any points from their first two Champions League matches, placing them at the bottom of their group, marking their worst-ever start to a group stage. In the Premier League, their performance has been dismal, with four losses in their opening seven games, including defeats in their last two home matches against Brighton and Crystal Palace, respectively. For the first time, Erik ten Hag is facing questions about his future, and the club is compelled to reaffirm its support for the manager.

While Ten Hag's job may not be in immediate jeopardy, he has every reason to be apprehensive. When David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Jose Mourinho were in charge, they were all dismissed despite having a better points-per-game record than Ten Hag does currently. They were also positioned higher in the league table and enjoying superior European success compared to the Dutchman, who now faces the ignominy of a Champions League exit unless there's a significant turnaround in the next four games.

Ten Hag can take some solace in the fact that the only manager to have garnered fewer points than him at this stage of the season was Sir Alex Ferguson. In the 1989-90 season, after a 5-1 defeat to Manchester City, Ferguson's job hung in the balance. In December 1989, a fed-up fan held up a now-famous banner reading 'Three Years of Excuses And It's Still Cr*p – Tara Fergie.'

United, however, opted not to part ways with Ferguson, and their patience and belief were handsomely rewarded. Now, Ten Hag must persuade the club's leadership that he is worthy of their trust in revitalizing the club's fortunes.

BETIMATE explores six strategies that the Dutchman can employ to reverse Manchester United's decline and secure his position in the job...

Utilize Hannibal's High Work Rate More Effectively

Hannibal Mejbri stands out as the most energized and motivated midfielder in the United squad at the moment. Ten Hag should optimize his involvement. The Tunisian international showcased his capabilities in a commendable performance against Burnley two weeks ago, covering an impressive 12.9 kilometers during the match, a record since 2019 for any United player. However, he's not being utilized to his full potential.

Ten Hag has mentioned that Hannibal, at 20, might not be ready to play twice a week, but given the current lack of pace, power, and determination in United's midfield, he should be a regular presence on the pitch.

Hannibal injected hope into a disheartening defeat to Brighton and was among the top performers at Turf Moor. Although he appeared lively against Galatasaray, he was substituted at half-time after receiving a booking, leaving a noticeable void in midfield, as United struggled to cope with opposition attacks.

Whether you like it or not, Hannibal currently stands as the hardest-working player at United and deserves more playing time.

Cease Playing Amrabat as a Left-Back

United's deployment of Sofyan Amrabat as a makeshift left-back is a last-resort solution due to the absence of four out of their five natural full-backs. This experiment is clearly not yielding favorable results. While the Moroccan international had a decent outing against a rotated Crystal Palace side in the Carabao Cup, his limitations at left-back became glaringly evident in the league game against Palace, where he conceded the free-kick that led to the Eagles' only goal.

His vulnerabilities were further exposed during the game against Galatasaray, with two of the visitors' goals originating from his left side.

In the aftermath of the Galatasaray defeat, Ten Hag acknowledged the issue, stating, "Maybe we have a little imbalance on the left side, but we can't make the errors we are making. We have to do better, we have to win our games." He also stressed that "there are no excuses," and it falls upon him to find a solution.

While Sergio Reguilon remains the only hope for a left-back return to face Brentford, bringing him back before full recovery could be a risk, considering he sustained the injury during the Burnley match despite being unwell.

If Reguilon is still unavailable, Ten Hag might consider deploying Diogo Dalot at left-back and shifting Victor Lindelof to right-back, with either Harry Maguire or Jonny Evans partnering Raphael Varane in the center. It may not be an ideal solution, but it's a more viable option than persisting with an unsuccessful experiment.

Restore Rashford's Confidence

The Galatasaray match showcased Marcus Rashford at both his best and his worst. In the first half, he played a pivotal role in United's attacks, delivering a pinpoint cross for Rasmus Hojlund's goal. His movements were impressive and kept the opposition defense on edge.

However, his second-half decision-making, especially when clean through on goal, underscored his severely diminished confidence. The Rashford of the previous season would have confidently converted the chance, but he attempted to set up Bruno Fernandes, with an under-hit pass that allowed Galatasaray to clear the danger.

It's evident that something isn't right with Rashford, and it's a challenge that Ten Hag and the player must address together. This is not the time for blame or abrupt exclusion from the squad.

Rashford has previously sought assistance from a sports psychologist to work on his mental game, which could be a means to rekindle his form. United needs to support their homegrown star, as do the fans, who should rally behind him instead of getting on his case.

Reestablish Control on the Pitch

One glaring absence in United's performance against Galatasaray was control. The match resembled a pinball game, with neither team maintaining possession for more than a few seconds.

While the chaos did contribute to United's second goal, the overall disorder didn't favor the home side. United conceded 10 shots and were fortunate to concede only three goals. This was in stark contrast to the previous game against Palace, where the Eagles capitalized on their first and only clear chance.

Although Ten Hag has emphasized that he isn't fixated on possessing the ball, it's evident that his style doesn't thrive in anarchy. He prefers his team to dictate play and doesn't mind ceding possession to the opponent, as they did against Burnley, as long as they remain in control.

That wasn't the case against Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Brighton, and United suffered as a result. They need to regain command of the game.

Feed Hojlund's Momentum

One silver lining from Tuesday's disappointing performance was Rasmus Hojlund's display. His performance drew parallels with Wayne Rooney's Champions League debut at Old Trafford, incidentally against Fenerbahce, Galatasaray's arch-rivals. Hojlund's second goal, surging through the pitch from the halfway line, evoked memories of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

United commenced the season without a striker due to Hojlund's back injury and Anthony Martial's persistent fitness problems, resulting in considerable setbacks. However, it appears they have addressed this issue. While their £72 million man is fit and in form, vulnerabilities are emerging elsewhere in the squad.

Hojlund has the potential to be a galvanizing force, and the forthcoming home fixture against Brentford provides the ideal opportunity for him to build on his momentum and potentially score his first Premier League goal, while leading the team to a much-needed victory.

The Dane thrives on through balls behind the defense, so United should aim to provide him with more opportunities and ensure there is another forward alongside him to exploit the chaos he generates.

Address Individual and Team Errors

United has been plagued by unexpected mistakes this season, with Onana gifting a goal to Bayern and a penalty (resulting in a red card for Casemiro) to Galatasaray. Dalot struggled defensively against Wilfried Zaha, and Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez have committed numerous errors.

Many of these mistakes are individual, but there is also a lack of communication among players and a sense that teammates are not on the same page.

These issues can be rectified through improved team cohesion and training. Ten Hag has emphasized the team's unity, but these errors suggest otherwise. It's his responsibility to truly unite the team, ensuring they fight for each other on the pitch and avoid a cycle of blame.