Manchester United faced West Ham United at London Stadium this past Sunday in the Premier League’s afternoon kick-off, and despite generating multiple chances, the Red Devils slumped to a 2-1 loss.
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Missed opportunities from United’s players, coupled with a highly contentious penalty decision made by Manchester City supporter Michael Oliver and enforced by a seemingly spineless David Coote, marred the game. However, this isolated result only scratches the surface of a much deeper problem.
Manchester United’s start to the season is, by many accounts, the worst since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2014.
Sitting 14th in the Premier League with a negative goal difference, United are showing more signs of a mid-table team than one vying for the top four, or even the top ten.
Once considered English football’s mightiest force, United now struggles to penetrate even the Premier League’s upper half. The rapid descent is a stark reminder of how far they’ve fallen.
Over the past decade, United has seen seven managerial changes (interim & permanent), each arriving with high hopes but ultimately deemed failures by United’s lofty standards.
Though some managers secured silverware, trophies like the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Europa League have done little to satiate fans’ appetite for titles that matter: the Premier League and Champions League.
Each regime seemed destined to restore glory, yet consistently faltered, with one constant throughout—the players.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, United has splashed over £1.5 billion on transfers, only to find themselves in this relentless cycle of underachievement.
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The problem, deeply rooted in culture, has been perpetuated under the Glazers’ ownership and enabled by players seemingly unprepared to shoulder the immense weight of a United shirt.
As Jose Mourinho once remarked, “one of my biggest achievements is finishing second with Manchester United,” highlighting the uphill battle even seasoned managers face here.
Ralf Rangnick echoed this sentiment in 2021, calling for “open-heart surgery” on the squad, insisting nearly the entire lineup needed a refresh.
And now, despite Erik ten Hag’s efforts and another £600 million spent on signings under his tenure, little has changed.
Against West Ham, Ten Hag’s side should have secured a win given the volume of big chances they created.
But with players lacking conviction, they repeatedly failed to capitalize on opportunities, contributing directly to their downfall. This repeated lack of cutting edge now has Ten Hag’s position under serious threat.
While Erik ten Hag undoubtedly bears responsibility for this season’s poor results due to questionable in-game decisions, an undefined style of play, and an often-lacking tactical plan, none of these factors were at fault against West Ham.
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This time, the blame falls squarely on the players, who showed a lack of resilience and the mentality of a relegation team rather than the stature and fighting spirit expected of Manchester United.
Their performance was spineless, failing to convert clear chances, and their attitude on the pitch was far removed from the standards of a club with United’s legacy.
Out of the eleven players on the pitch, ten were either signed, nurtured, or promoted by Erik ten Hag, making this loss a painful reflection of his choices in squad building.
To add to the frustration, a highly controversial penalty decision only deepened United’s woes, reinforcing the night’s sense of injustice.
The unfortunate reality is that Erik ten Hag may indeed be the one to pay the price. Despite his own shortcomings, the players’ inability to deliver consistently is a critical factor.
Yet, as is often the case, managers become the scapegoats, shouldering the blame as these performances simply cannot continue.
A reset may be looming, but unless deep-seated cultural issues within the club are addressed, the cycle of failure will likely continue.
In the wake of this loss, it seems increasingly likely that Erik ten Hag’s days at Old Trafford are numbered—a move that will once again shield players from accountability while casting a manager out to bear the brunt of institutional failings.
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