Erik ten Hag must be feeling a sense of deja vu as he contemplates the unsettling statistics that followed Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat against Galatasaray at Old Trafford.
For the first time in their history, Manchester United has suffered consecutive defeats at the start of a Champions League campaign.
In the current 2023-24 season, United has faced defeat in six out of their ten matches across all competitions. What’s more concerning is that they’ve conceded a total of 18 goals in these ten games, a statistic not seen since the 1966-67 season.
Statistics like these can be haunting, and for previous United managers, unwanted records have often marked their tenure:
– David Moyes experienced his first home defeat to Everton in 21 years, followed by a rare home loss to Newcastle.
Erik ten Hag, in his own words, acknowledged the team’s poor start before the Galatasaray match, stating, “Our start to the season has not been good enough. Although there are reasons, we will not attempt to hide behind excuses. It is up to us to now to turn our fortunes around. What happens next is up to us and nobody else.”
Erik ten Haag currently faces a two-pronged challenge. The Dutchman has been struggling with a series of injuries and player absences that have affected his squad:
– Both left backs, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, are left with long-term injuries to create a void in the defence. Even his last-minute replacement, Sergio Reguilon, has ruled out, forcing Sofian Amrabat to fill in at left-back when his presence is urgently needed in central midfield. Injuries have also deprived Ten Haag of promising teenager Kobi Mainu.
– Lisandro Martinez’s three-month absence with a broken leg has weakened United’s defence. This disrupted the preferred passing options for goalkeeper Andre Onana.
However, there are also questions surrounding Ten Haag’s coaching decisions:
– Ten Hague advocated for Anthony’s signature last summer, which the club paid. However, the £82 million spent on the Brazilian appears to tighten financial constraints for the club within the framework of Financial Fair Play.
– In the recent summer transfer window, David de Gea was offloaded to accommodate Ten Haag’s preference for a ball-playing goalkeeper. And leading to the acquisition of Andre Onana for £47.2 million. While Onana brings strong pedigree and confidence, he has made notable mistakes. His error that gifted Dries Mertens to the United box resulted in the sending off of Casemiro. In who received a second booking as he tried to rectify the situation.
Erik ten Hag commented on the crowd’s reaction, saying, “Yes, I can understand. Together with my squad, I am responsible for this team’s performance and results, and currently, we are not delivering the results we should. We must improve. Nonetheless, I witnessed a team with immense spirit and the unwavering support of the crowd from start to finish.” contemplates the unsettling statistics
The disappointment is palpable, but it serves as motivation for the team to do better in the future.
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