Records have shown some disaster comparisons between Erik ten Hag's recent record and Gary Neville's Valencia stint after Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at the Old Trafford Stadium on Sunday evening.
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The Red Devils' suffered another painful defeat on Sunday night as Spurs outclassed them with an early three first-half minutes goal. Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven runs past five Manchester United players before crossing the ball to an unmarked Brennan Johnson. United's performance in the game was worsened when their captain, Bruno Fernandes, received a controversial red card in the first half. In the second half, Tottenham's attackers demonstrated how vulnerable United's defense was, likened by some fans to a downpour from the iconic stadium.
Several critics have pounced on the performance of Manchester United, as former Manchester United defender Gary Neville called the display "disgusting" and "disgraceful," while fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said it was "embarrassing" and the club had hit "rock bottom."
"The first half was as bad as it gets." "This is a shocking day, a sobering day. This is a really bad day for Ten Hag." "You can't say it came from nowhere because Manchester United have been inconsistent all season, but they have chosen to put in their very worst performance, their very worst possible showing." It was an absolutely disgusting performance in that first half in effort, quality, everything you would want in a football team, and there are going to be a lot of questions to answer for that group and the manager in the next week."
The defeat was the Red Devils' third Premier League defeat of the 2024-25 season, leaving them languishing down in 12th in the table, six points adrift of the top four after just six games. However, fans have compared United's poor start form under manager Erik Ten Hag with Gary Neville's record spell in charge of Valencia in 2016. Our reporter earlier reported that United former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is opening ways for a potential return to the club if Erik Ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United coach.
In Manchester United's last 28 matches under Ten Hag, United have lost 13 while scoring 35 goals and conceding 45 in the process. Garry Neville, in 28 games before being sacked as Valencia coach, lost 11 matches while scoring 39 goals and conceding 38 goals in total. Neville lasted less than four months in charge at the LaLiga side after accepting an offer to coach the team from owner and close friend Peter Lim, with the Sky Sports pundit winning just three of his 16 league games in charge.
However, many fans are calling for the INEOS to sack the manager, but when Ten Hag was asked about his future following the defeat at Old Trafford, he replied
'We all made together this decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group in the summer, also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad. 'But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like Ugarte. Also, we have to make some improvement in organisation, some injuries, we need some time. 'We are all on one page or in one boat together - the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don't have that concern.
Manchester United continue to put their faith in Erik ten Hag, as the manager was backed up in this summer transfer market after remaining among the biggest spenders in Europe since his arrival. United has already brought in Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Manuel Ugarte, but the team's performance has continued to be poor.
In his first two full seasons, Ten Hag has won a domestic cup in both, the Carabao Cup in 2023 and their FA Cup triumph in May. However, the 54-year-old also guided the club to eighth during the 2023/24 season, marking United's lowest-ever Premier League finish.
Erik ten Hag was confirmed as Manchester United manager in April 2022, replacing Ralf Rangnick after the conclusion of the 2021/22 Premier League season. The manager since then won three Premier League coach awards of the season in September 2022, February 2023, and November 2023.
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