Erik ten Hag is in danger of being sacked if his style of play fails to impress Manchester United’s Ineos-led football department, with the manager’s performance this season said to be poor. As well as needing time to integrate their five summer signings, they are also worried about how the squad will shape up.
The Dutchman’s style of play is being scrutinized by the Dutch Football Department, led by sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool was Ten Hag’s lackluster midfield and defense as his side lost 2-1 to Brighton.
Ten Hag, who has been strongly backed by chief executives Ashworth and Omar Berrada in recent days, and whose support remains for the immediate future, and Ten Hag, who signed a contract extension in the summer after United considered other players, must start to show his team can dominate games and opponents. In the summer, Ten Hag signed Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.Yoro will be unavailable for at least another month due to a foot injury picked up in pre-season and Ten Hag said Ugarte needed time to regain match fitness after not featuring for PSG ahead of the £42m move.
Ten Hag’s first choice number 9 Rasmus Højlund has also not played yet.The Dane is back in training with a hamstring injury, while senior left-back Luke Shaw is expected to return after being sidelined with a calf problem after the internationals.Shaw’s assistant Tyrell Malacia, who has not played for United for more than a year due to a knee problem, will return next month.Victor Lindelöf has an unspecified problem that will keep him out for the rest of the season.
