Manchester United win FA Cup against Manchester City but Erik ten Hag has to leave

Erik ten Hag took over at Manchester United in May 2022 after impressing the bigger clubs with his style and technique at AFC Ajax. He transformed the Dutch club into a place where young players flourished and made a name for themselves on the European stage. But that was not what he was able to do Red devils.

In his first season, Ten Hague helped United finish third, a fairly decent result after a busy season. That year saw a bitter end to the turbulent relationship between Cristiano Ronaldo and the club. Soccer legend Ten Haag’s treatment received mixed reactions from fans, but in the end he got the team he wanted.

In the summer of 2022, the club broke the bank to sign Ten Haag, spending more than $274 million. Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Anthony, Tyrell Malacia and Martin Dubravka moved to Manchester that year. Along with these talented players at Ten Hag’s disposal, he inherited a squad that included the likes of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

United finished 14 points behind champions Manchester City that year. They are 9 points behind Arsenal in second place. Despite fairly filling defensive gaps, United were still vulnerable at the back. Their goal difference was just 15, the third-lowest in the Premier League’s top ten that season, just behind Aston Villa and Tottenham.

Breaking down Manchester United’s problems

Over the past two years, it has become clear that Ten Haag’s main goal is to play from the back. At the back, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the driver’s seat, United often went for long pa*ses from defenders or David de Gea. Apart from that, often, the team depends a lot on the individual quality of the players. For example, Bruno Fernandes had to take it upon himself to find that defence-splitting pa*s to break down the opposition.

That was one of United’s biggest problems. If you look at the top clubs in Europe, there isn’t just one playmaker that the team is relying on. If opponents choose to man-mark Bruno, leaving him no space, there is no other midfielder who can take the game to himself.

Despite the result, it must be noted that United have improved a lot in the build-up game, but not enough to compete against the likes of City and Liverpool. Successful teams always have a plan B, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Dutch manager’s team. When playing against teams that go for low blocks, teams usually aim to stretch the opponent’s defense by attacking from both flanks or crowding the central zone.

United have done it well at times, but what they lack is direction to go after it. There have been many instances where United have held the ball in the final third, with most players attacking, but struggling to find space in midfield. Currently, they don’t have the aerial presence in the box to get a header in every time the ball goes in the air. This brings us to United’s next problem; Set pieces.

Players have struggled with set-piece defending over the past few years. This resulted in United conceding a higher number of goals, which is also happening in 2024. Despite having tall players like Harry Maguire and Varane, Ten Hag have not been able to defend their set pieces well. Apart from that, there were too many mistakes from the back defenders, even from the goalkeepers. This was one of the main reasons for offloading De Gea.

Even with the arrival of Andre Onaner, United have struggled to fully adapt to Ten Haag’s style of play, which includes playing from the back, starting with the keeper when the team has the ball.

When they don’t hold the ball, Ten Haag aims to get his team to play in a high-pressing style. This left United’s defense vulnerable on many occasions and especially on the counter-attack. Quick turnovers are one of the biggest problems facing defenses.

Is Erik ten Hag the right man to take United forward?

Even if he can improve the team, the question remains whether he is the right man. United have conceded 50 goals so far this season, and scored just 51. In their season short, they weren’t clinical enough in the final third, and their defense changed too many times for Ten Haag. Regular back four. Luck has not been on his side either, as many United players have been dealing with injuries over the past few months.

Just to mention a few, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, and Lisandro Martinez. It has forced United to get the best out of their current players, and it is taking a toll. However, it would certainly benefit both United and the manager if he left at the end of the season and I think I have some good arguments behind the bold take.

To be clear, Ten Haag is not a bad manager, he is definitely a coach who can win countless trophies. But United have been a process for many years now, and it is time that Jim Ratcliffe and Co. Start taking some decisions keeping short term aspects in mind He spent around 500 million in the club and won the English League Cup. Apart from that, Ten Hague’s United are in the 2024 FA Cup final and will face Manchester City.

I believe that while United have tasted success in the FA Cup, Ratcliffe may want to look at other proven options who have experience of winning in the top five leagues. The club should have a manager who boasts a prestigious trophy in his cabinet, although this is not United’s history. Sir Alex Ferguson helped rebuild the club from the ground up, and that’s why I think United fans are hoping for a manager to do the same again.

As a United fan myself, I think the club could use a manager with a proven record at the club. The main reason why I say this again is that the game has seen some drastic changes and clubs have been quick to adapt. United should not expect a manager to come in and rebuild every two years. Rebuilding can take years, as Mikel Arteta did with it the gunman.

Ten Hag can replicate what Arteta did; Content for the trophy, but the United community will not be as patient as Arsenal’s. The 13-time PL winners aren’t in a position to do so for at least another year, and leaving after winning the FA Cup would be a good end note to write.