Eric Ten Hag Admits United Were Not Good Enough: Manchester United finished off the Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Brighton, but manager Eric Ten Hag isn’t happy at all. Well, you can’t blame him, as the team has finished 8th at the table with 60 points, the lowest-ever final place in 32 years of the club’s history.
Eric Ten Hag Admits United Were Not Good Enough
In the post-match presser, Ten Hag admitted that his team’s performance wasn’t ‘good enough’. The Dutchman, though, tried to soften the blow by comparing the points the team had two years prior. In 2021–22, despite having two points shy of the current season, United could finish 6th on the table.
“It was a very tough season for us,” Ten Hag said. “We know it’s not good enough, by far. Simple. There are reasons, but, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. It’s United. You have to finish higher, and this is not good enough.”
“We know the competition is tough. We have 60 points; two years ago, it was 58 and were sixth, and now, 60 and eighth. But it is not good enough. We’re disappointed.”
Ten Hag also pointed out the injury issues the team had to face throughout the season, especially in the center-half and left-back positions.
“Especially in the backline, in the second half of the season, there were so many injuries,” Ten Hag said. “Especially in the center-half positions and the left-back position. All the time, we have to adjust there and make compromises that were no good for our level.”
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United Might Have a Breather
The Red Devils will face their arch-rivals and the current league champions, Manchester City, in the upcoming FA Cup final. Though winning seems like a far cry for Ten Hag’s team on paper, a win would be such a breather for the gasping side and possible job retention for the Dutchman.
Cold Wars, Blasts, and What Not: Ten Hag’s Drama-Filled Two Years
On April 21, 2022, Eric Ten Hag was appointed as Manchester United’s manager after interim boss Ralf Ragnick was sacked by the management. Ten Hag was one of the hot picks that time after having a swashbuckling run with Ajax. Many believed that Ten Hag could compete with the masterminds of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, who were ruling the PL at the time. He also had the greatest player football has ever seen, Cristiano Ronaldo, in addition to stars like Jaden Sancho, Rafeal Varane, and Bruno Fernandes in the squad.
Ten Hag was expected to revitalize the dried-off United after legendary manager Alex Ferguson stepped away from the chair. Though the start gave glimpses of change, Ten Hag caused trouble for himself by going against stars like CR7 and Jaden Sancho. While Ronaldo had left the team pointing at the ‘disrespect’ from the manager in the same season, Jaden Sancho was loaned off to his previous club, Borussia Dortmund.
Soon, the news about Ten Hag losing the dressing room spread all over the media. These criticisms could have been brushed off if the results from the pitch were good. Not only did the United continue their dismal performances, but the players Ten Hag went against had a brilliant run at their current clubs. While Ronaldo ended 2023 as the top scorer worldwide with a staggering 54 goals, Jaden Sancho played an important role in taking Borussia Dortmund to the UEFA Champions League, where they will meet mighty Real Madrid on June 2, 2024.
Will United Sack Ten Hag This Summer?
This question has to wait. Though Ten Hag repeatedly showed his desire to stay at the club, there haven’t been many positive signs for him to retain his seat. He may secure his job if United manage to thrash City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday. But as the Blues are in astonishing form, Ten Hag and United will have to drop every ounce of sweat possible to make something big happen.
Check Out: Eric Ten Hag Admits United Were Not Good Enough
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