There’s a growing sentiment that Erik ten Hag might face dismissal from Manchester United, with two pundits sympathizing with him, describing Old Trafford as a place where top managers often see their careers falter. Ten Hag’s promising initial season, achieving Champions League qualification and cup success, contrasts sharply with a dismal second season marked by 11 defeats in 23 games, leading to constant crises.
The pressure on Ten Hag has intensified ahead of a crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich, following a humiliating 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth. The situation is critical as United must win against Bayern and hope for a specific outcome in another Group A match to progress further. Failure could mean an end for Ten Hag due to perceived mistakes.
The stakes are incredibly high, with this match considered a “win or bust” scenario, amplifying the pressure on Ten Hag beyond anything he’s faced before.
The club’s poor start to the season, especially their home record, stands as their worst in over five decades, adding to the distress for Ten Hag and Manchester United. The possibility of a heavy defeat against Bayern and subsequent struggles against Liverpool in the Premier League might escalate calls for Ten Hag’s dismissal.
Despite this, Gary Neville believes that sacking Ten Hag wouldn’t benefit United. In his homeland, Dutch pundits Wim Kieft and Johan Boskamp sympathize with Ten Hag, highlighting that the British media’s treatment has made his situation significantly worse, with United even banning some publications from press conferences. This treatment has not been received well in the Netherlands, with comparisons drawn to the harsh media treatment experienced by previous managers like Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal at the United.