It’s been a tough second season at the helm of Manchester United for Erik ten Hag – to say the least.
The Dutch manager has had a seriously tough campaign. From a Champions League group stage exit to a lacklustre Premier League fight – it hasn’t been a season to remember for the Red Devils.
The only redeeming factor could be an FA Cup win, but even if Ten Hag were to win that, you still can’t really say the season was a success.
The big one – it looks like Manchester United are set to miss on Champions League places. And it could get worse.
Manchester United’s poor Premier League campaign
Following the drab draw to Bournemouth, United currently sit 7th in the Premier League table on just 50 points after 32 games.
This is, to put it bluntly, extremely poor. The Red Devils are 10 points off the top four and a whopping 23 points behind Manchester City.
This season has been a reality check for Ten Hag, no doubt, but if results don’t improve – he may not get a do-over next season.
It is really up in the air as to whether he’ll remain at the helm. The managerial market is scarce, so it’d be hard to get someone else in any way.
But such is the brutal nature of football, he could definitely be hounded out. Particularly if you compare Ten Hag’s second-season stint to David Moyes‘ time in charge.
Erik ten Hag worse off than David Moyes
Moyes was sacked as the manager of Manchester United on the 22nd of April 2014. He was dismissed due to a disappointing campaign, where the team failed to meet expectations and secure a Champions League spot.
United really struggled in the Premier League and faced early exits from various cup competitions, so the club’s management ultimately decided to part ways with Moyes in search of a new direction for the team.
This is why it’s all the more shocking to know that Ten Hag is actually worse off than Moyes was at this point of the season.
Manchester United have four points fewer after 32 games this season than they did under Moyes in 2013-14. Does this mean Ten Hag deserves the same fate as the Scotsman?
The standards have dropped considerably since Moyes – but given how bad that campaign was post-Sir Alex Ferguson, you could be making a case that Ten Hag should be getting the chop as well.