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When Manchester United began their Champions League journey against Bayern Munich on September 20th, there was a strong feeling of apprehension. The team had a rough start to the season with three losses in five Premier League games, and their main focus at the Allianz Arena was not on winning or tying, but on avoiding embarrassment.
The 4-3 loss was an exciting match with seven goals, but Bayern dominated and United struggled to score consistently. However, it was not a catastrophic result for United as they were aware that their advancement in the Champions League did not solely depend on this game.
On Tuesday night, United exited the competition at the bottom of Group A without the chance to compete in the Europa League. They suffered yet another one-goal loss to Bayern, this time 1-0 at Old Trafford. The Bundesliga champions proved to be too strong once again. As they had already secured a spot in the last 16 as group winners, they lacked the urgency and determination that often brings out the best in top teams. This was a welcome relief for United.
The event was unusual and lacked the expected excitement. Prior to the match, Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel had mentioned the “electricity” of Old Trafford, but it seemed to be missing.
United brought what they had at the outset, pressing hard, throwing themselves into tackles, playing for the shirt – and the manager, Erik ten Hag. But it was as if everybody in the stands knew it would not be enough. The home crowd seemed resigned to their fate. There was no sustained anger at the end, just a brief bit of booing from those who had stayed. At least it was not a humiliation.
United’s current season has been marked by inconsistency and a significant drop in performance. They have been consistently defeated by notable opponents, and when they assess their position in the Premier League standings, they can only claim victory over one team in the top half – Fulham, who are currently ranked 10th. This victory was achieved through a last-minute goal that could be seen as somewhat lucky.
Manchester United’s chances in the Champions League were already diminished prior to Tuesday’s matches against Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Both games were intense showdowns, but unfortunately, United’s performance was not enough to match the intense level of excitement.
They now assess losses based on their severity rather than the losses themselves, indicating a club with no direction and diminishing hope.
The main issue at hand is the plan to salvage the rest of the season and whether this will keep Ten Hag employed. At most, United must secure a top-four or top-five spot, and aim to qualify for another Champions League tournament. However, it would be ironic if fifth place was not sufficient due to the club’s struggles in European competitions causing a decrease in England’s coefficient. Additionally, there is the FA Cup to consider.
According to a neutral evaluation, it can be argued that Ten Hag’s time at United is coming to an end. The recent loss against Bayern was the team’s 12th of the season, which is among the highest number of losses in the top five leagues in Europe, only surpassed by Burnley, Almería, and Union Berlin.
Fortunately for Ten Hag, there is currently no one in a position to fire him. This is because the club is waiting for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to finalize his acquisition of a 25% share from the Glazer family and take over control of the team’s sports operations.
Patrick Stewart, the chief legal officer, is currently serving as the interim chief executive for United. This follows the departure of Richard Arnold, and it is improbable that the football department, led by John Murtough, would take action as they are preparing to transfer control to Ratcliffe’s team.
Should Ten Hag continue to lead the team for the rest of the season? This question refers to his performance last season, where he had more success due to fewer injuries. It also considers the potential risks and disruptions of making a change in the middle of the season. This approach did not yield positive results for United in the past, when they replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjær with Ralf Rangnick in December 2021. Some players may not be satisfied with the current situation, but it’s hard to determine the exact number. On the other hand, fans who attend matches have not shown any signs of turning against the team. They continue to show strong support.
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Situations can shift rapidly. This was evident for Solskjær when Manchester United suffered a devastating 5-0 loss at home to Liverpool. And now, as if on cue, Ten Hag’s Ajax is set to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday – the same place where they suffered their worst defeat last March with a score of 7-0. However, Ten Hag managed to bounce back from that defeat and it was seen as an anomaly in their overall progress. But the current circumstances are not the same.
United will be on edge as they travel, considering their recent performance and the current selection dilemma. It was intriguing to hear Ten Hag express his frustration with the club’s injury issues, especially in the defensive line. For Ten Hag, the foundation of everything is at the back, not just in terms of defending against the other team, but also in how he wants to orchestrate the offense.
United’s strongest performance during the previous season occurred when they advanced through the field with coordinated movements, precise one-touch passes, and strategic positioning between the opposing team’s lines. Luke Shaw played a pivotal role as left-back, frequently carrying the ball forward and connecting with Marcus Rashford on the wing in front of him.
The unity among the team has been less noticeable and consistent this season. It is worth mentioning that in each Champions League match, Ten Hag had to make two changes to his defense from the previous game and at times, even play defenders in unfamiliar positions. This has not provided a stable foundation for integrating a new goalkeeper, André Onana, with a different playing style.
Ten Hag did not have Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, and Tyrell Malacia due to injuries when facing Bayern. During the game, he also lost Harry Maguire and Shaw to muscle injuries. The team was extremely short-handed, especially with the additional absence of midfielders Casemiro, Mason Mount, and Christian Eriksen due to injuries. Additionally, Bruno Fernandes will miss the Liverpool game due to suspension.
Ten Hag is awaiting medical updates and the next course of action is risky. The top priority is avoiding embarrassment.
Source: theguardian.com
