Janice R. Andrews
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has taken on a casual teaching job during the international break. This comes at a time when his job at Old Trafford is getting more and more scrutinised. After a bad start to the season, the Dutchman, who just signed a new deal a few months ago, is under a lot of. United has had a slow start to the Premier League season, with only one win in their first three games. This has worried both fans and board members.
Not a Great Start to the Season
Ten Hag’s first game in charge this season ended in a close win over Fulham, thanks to Joshua Zirkzee’s first goal. But the momentum was quickly lost when they lost to Brighton and Liverpool in a row. The 3-0 loss to Liverpool, especially at home, has made people want changes even more. Controlling owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, looked irritated during the Liverpool game, which made people wonder about Ten Hag’s future.
The losses have made fans and experts worry, and they want to know if Ten Hag can turn things around. Despite these problems, reports say that some United board members are still sure that Ten Hag can take back charge and turn the club’s luck around.
Short-Term Job at Utrecht
Because of all this confusion, Ten Hag has agreed to fill a temporary role while the international break is going on. News from Manchester Evening News (MEN) says that he will play in a tribute game for former player Mark van der Maarel at Utrecht, the club where Ten Hag used to be manager. After playing for the Dutch club for 17 years, Van der Maarel asked his old teacher to attend this event.
This short break from the stress of Premier League management could give Ten Hag a much-needed break before he goes back to the tough games that are coming up.
What Does the Future Hold for Manchester United?
After the international break, Manchester United will play a string of important games, starting with a trip to Southampton, then a Carabao Cup match, and finally a league game at Crystal Palace. These games are very important for Ten Hag, who is feeling more and more pressure to keep his job.
Possible Replacements Have Been Found
Reports say that Manchester United has already found possible replacements for Ten Hag in case their problems don’t go away. Thomas Tuchel, who used to lead Chelsea, is said to be the favourite for the job if the board decides to hire a new manager. This rumour makes things even more tense, which makes Ten Hag’s future matches even more important.
Ten Hag is briefly taking a break from the Premier League focus. However, his future at Old Trafford still depends on how well he can improve Manchester United’s performance.
