Erik ten Hag has been warned that his position will be "untenable" if Manchester United lose their must-win game at Southampton.
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Man Utd have lost two of their first three PL matchesWere outplayed by Liverpool at Old TraffordLouis Saha feels Ten Hag does not have a "game plan"WHAT HAPPENED?
United began their campaign with a narrow victory over Fulham, but the momentum quickly faded after disappointing defeats to Brighton and Liverpool. The team's underwhelming performances have placed Ten Hag under scrutiny, which has led many to question whether he is the right man for the job.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID
Former United striker Louis Saha speaking on behalf of expressed his concerns about United's current form and emphasised that the next match against Southampton could be decisive for Ten Hag.
When asked if he believes Ten Hag’s position as United manager will become untenable with a defeat against Southampton on Saturday, he said: "I think so. Against Liverpool, the issue was the performance rather than just the result, so Erik’s under pressure because the team isn’t playing well. There were no signs during the game that things were going to be fixed. On Saturday, if Southampton are able to dominate against Manchester United in the same way that Liverpool dominated last week, then the situation would be untenable for Erik ten Hag.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Saha’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among fans who are worried about United’s lack of a clear tactical identity. The defeat to Liverpool was particularly damaging, not just because of the result on home turf, but because of how easily United were outplayed in all departments by the Merseyside club.
"You need to find different ways to beat the best sides and that’s something that every manager needs to do, but at the same time your philosophy really has to always be in line with a foundation that the players can really understand, know what the manager is asking of them and know what the needs are during the game," Saha argued.
"We saw Arne Slot and Liverpool destroy the tactics of Erik ten Hag in their last game. At this moment, it’s not about personalities, it’s about seeing a plan that the players can identify with and cause damage with. Sometimes we see players play as individuals or not being able to respond correctly but at the moment, the problem is the game plan. Currently, we can’t identify a clear game plan and that’s why Erik’s being criticised. Things need to improve.”
GOALWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
Fortunately for Ten Hag, the Dutch manager got some time to regroup during the international break which provided him with a valuable opportunity to address the team's tactical issues and refocus ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures. A new lease of life could come for the manager if he comes out unscathed from St. Mary's on Saturday evening. The odds favour him as Southampton have lost all three league fixtures so far and have scored only a single goal.