Erik ten Hag was all the time keen on a footballing cliche and had been recognized to comment: “You might be solely nearly as good as your final recreation.”
Manchester United’s powers that be took that sentiment a little bit too actually for the Dutchman, belatedly ending Ten Hag’s time in cost after a dire 2-1 loss to West Ham United on Sunday.
If an observer have been to guage Ten Hag after every efficiency, their opinion of United’s supervisor would have dramatically swung from one excessive to a different. This, in any case, is a coach who gained his first trophy on the membership one week earlier than slumping to a record-shattering defeat on the residence of their fiercest rivals.
Whereas there will probably be many who query how profitable Ten Hag’s time at Outdated Trafford has been, there is no such thing as a doubt that it was affected by loads of highs and lows.
2023 Carabao Cup remaining
Ten Hag was all the time fast to level to the items of silverware which he gained for Manchester United – and for good motive. Earlier than a considerably anticlimactic 2-0 stroll in opposition to Newcastle United within the 2023 Carabao Cup remaining, the Crimson Devils had not gained a trophy in nearly six years, stretching again to Jose Mourinho’s seize of the 2017 Europa League.
The previous Ajax boss was noticed joyfully bouncing across the Wembley pitch with Antony and Lisandro Martinez in a celebration taken from their shared time in Amsterdam. Ten Hag, who wore a pensive glare extra typically than another expression, not often confirmed such emotion all through the remaining 18 months of his keep in Manchester.
FA Cup basic
Performed like a reckless, carefree, remaining day of the season sort recreation, United’s bonkers 4-3 triumph over Liverpool within the 2024 FA Cup quarter-final will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence of these in Manchester and past.
Ten Hag’s muddled hosts ended the competition with Bruno Fernandes at centre-back and Antony to his left in a makeshift defence. United had taken a tenth-minute lead earlier than Jurgen Klopp’s guests struck twice earlier than the break. Antony – whereas nonetheless in a forward-thinking place – pressured further time with an 87th-minute equaliser. Harvey Elliott fired Liverpool again in entrance, however United rallied as soon as once more, drawing stage because of Marcus Rashford, forward of Amad Diallo’s 121st-minute winner.
Even the usually stone-faced Ten Hag admitted that it was “actually enjoyable to be part of”.
2024 FA Cup remaining
On the eve of United’s journey to Wembley Stadium for the 2024 FA Cup remaining, a number of revered shops reported that Ten Hag could be sacked after the showpiece. The Crimson Devils had endured their lowest-ever Premier League end (eighth) and have been framed as rank outsiders in a remaining in opposition to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester Metropolis.
However Ten Hag masterminded the very best efficiency of his whole United tenure. A courageous entrance 4 nullified the Premier League champions and offered the platform for United to race into a completely deserved 2-0 lead earlier than the interval. Jeremy Doku’s 87th-minute strike proved nothing greater than a comfort as United held onto a well-known victory and Ten Hag clung to his job.
Brentford battering
Ten Hag’s tenure was not even two video games outdated when the primary cracks emerged. United have been 4-0 down away to lowly Brentford inside the opening 35 minutes of their go to in August 2022.
The disgusted Dutch coach later revealed: “Beforehand, I noticed one in every of our gamers shake his head and say with a sigh, ‘It’s a lot too sizzling to play soccer’.” Ten Hag was notably incensed by the distinction in distance lined between the 2 sides. The hard-working hosts racked up eight extra miles than their neon-clad guests, who have been ordered by the supervisor to make up the deficit in laps round United’s coaching pitch on their time off.
Derby day demolition
Had it not been for a late brace from Anthony Martial, Ten Hag’s first Manchester derby would have been much more humiliating. Because it was, shedding 6-3 on the Etihad wasn’t precisely a giant optimistic.
The previous Bayern Munich second group coach had been dubbed ‘mini Pep’ throughout his time in Bavarian given the similarities between the 2 managers. However the true Pep stood up in October 2022, orchestrating a nut-and-bolt dismantling of his counterpart as two targets for Erling Haaland and Phil Foden gave Metropolis a 4-0 lead at half-time. The pair each accomplished their hat-tricks within the second half, prompting the Etihad to greedily roar: “We wish ten!”
Historic defeat to Liverpool
Seven quick days after lifting the Carabao Cup, Ten Hag was hanging his head in disgrace after overseeing United’s heaviest ever defeat to Liverpool. The Reds solely led by a single objective going into half-time, however mercilessly took benefit of their rivals’ staggering implosion over the following 45 minutes.
Luke Shaw’s blind rage, Bruno Fernandes’ barge on the assistant referee and Ten Hag’s gradual retreat into his shell have been all performed to the backdrop of Sky Sports activities’ unravelling commentary.
Former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher audibly giggled within the background to every objective and could not resist a sly dig in Gary Neville’s course after the seventh strike. The previous United skipper’s masks of professionalism momentarily slipped as he hissed in direction of his colleague: “Do one.”
