MANCHESTER — Erik ten Hag is aware of he’s now within the survival part of his profession as Manchester United supervisor, and his response to Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time miss within the 2-2 draw towards Tottenham Hotspur at Outdated Trafford was proof of his vulnerability in entrance of the person who will quickly be his boss: Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ten Hag threw his fingers within the air after which put his head in them. McTominay was unmarked, 6 yards out, as he jumped to go Alejandro Garnacho’s cross into the online to make it 3-2. However the Scotland midfielder despatched his effort excessive over Guglielmo Vicario’s crossbar and the win that Ten Hag desperately wanted evaporated, leaving United with one level from a recreation during which they’d twice taken the lead.
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United and Ten Hag have had loads of setbacks this season, after all. That is why they sit in seventh place within the Premier League, eight factors adrift of the highest 4 and 13 factors behind leaders Liverpool.
However whereas the entire earlier stumbles had been performed out towards a backdrop of uncertainty in regards to the membership’s possession and a punishing damage listing, Sunday marked a change of course for United and Ten Hag.
Ratcliffe was watching United for the primary time since affirmation of his £1.3 billion funding to take a 25% stake of the membership final month — the deal nonetheless needs to be ratified by the Premier League — and his presence alongside Sir Alex Ferguson within the administrators’ field signalled the upcoming modifications to be made on the membership, which is able to see the billionaire and his associates take over soccer operations at United from the Glazer household, who will retain a majority stake as homeowners.
Ratcliffe needs to sharpen up United’s scouting and recruitment, and that’s certainly music to Ten Hag’s ears, but when the previous Ajax coach is to profit from the brand new construction he has to satisfy his facet of the discount by displaying progress when it comes to outcomes and performances on the pitch. After the draw towards Tottenham, he may have left Ratcliffe with extra questions than solutions.
Questions resembling: How did United handle simply 36% possession in a house recreation? Why choose the restricted right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back? Why was teenager Kobbie Mainoo repeatedly uncovered as holding midfielder whereas more-experienced teammates watched on? And, in the end, how has a workforce containing so many proficient and costly gamers received simply 10 of 21 league video games this season?
Tottenham had been in a position to equalise twice, by Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur, due to poor defending by United. However they’re certainly not the primary workforce to make the most of that individual shortcoming in Ten Hag’s facet.
United are a workforce of “moments gamers” — these able to flashes of brilliance, however not often the extra mundane necessities of business and teamwork. At instances towards Spurs, they acquired in one another’s manner, misplaced possession with careless and lazy flicks and failed to identify easy passes. However Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring with an unstoppable left-footed shot after which created Marcus Rashford’s aim with a uncommon show of understanding as he performed a neat one-two with the England ahead. Highs and lows.
Ten Hag, nonetheless, is meant to deliver all of it collectively and iron out the issues. That’s his job as supervisor, however he regularly fails to take action and that’s what will concern Ratcliffe.
Within the reverse technical space, Spurs supervisor Ange Postecoglou discovered a solution to overcome his workforce twice, falling behind regardless of being with out key gamers together with main scorer Son Heung-min, high creator James Maddison and the difficult winger Dejan Kulusevski.
Postecoglou’s facet appear like a workforce. Regardless of who performs or who’s lacking, they’ve a manner of enjoying, a mode, and it’s why they’ve over-performed this season. Remember that Postecoglou additionally noticed Harry Kane depart the membership for Bayern Munich this summer season, denying him the providers of one of many world’s best strikers.
Ten Hag has proven treasured little of Postecoglou’s potential to cope with adversity and that’s another excuse why he must step it as much as persuade Ratcliffe that he ought to have a future as United supervisor. However for weeks now, the Dutchman has mentioned that outcomes and performances will enhance when injured gamers return.
In opposition to Spurs, Lisandro MartÃnez made his first look since September and Casemiro was within the squad for the primary time for the reason that starting of November. Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are additionally again in coaching and might be concerned within the FA Cup fourth spherical tie towards Newport or Eastleigh in two weeks. So the mitigating components are starting to vanish — readability and stability is arriving within the boardroom and the remedy room is beginning to empty.
It is time for Ten Hag to ship, as a result of Ratcliffe wants causes to consider he’s the fitting man for the job.