Manchester United’s ongoing difficulties under manager Erik ten Hag have drawn widespread criticism, with both his managerial style and financial decisions under heavy scrutiny.
Despite being given significant financial support, Ten Hag’s tenure at United has been marked by some of the club’s worst performances in recent Premier League history.
Since taking the helm in May 2022, Ten Hag has overseen a series of disappointing results, including some of the poorest starts to a Premier League season in United’s history, as well as an underwhelming overall finish in the competition.
Although victories in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup offered brief moments of relief, these successes have done little to mask the deeper and more persistent issues facing the club.
Upon his arrival, Ten Hag took over a squad already in decline, but he was granted a massive transfer budget of £616 million ($807 million) to rebuild the team according to his vision.
However, two-and-a-half years and 20 signings later, Manchester United continue to endure one of the most challenging periods since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. The continued struggles highlight the club’s inability to turn things around, despite the substantial investment in the squad.
A key point of criticism during Ten Hag’s tenure has been his recruitment strategy, particularly his tendency to sign players he previously worked with, most notably at Ajax.
This approach has not worked well, as many of these players have failed to adapt to the intensity and demands of the Premier League, as well as the heightened pressure that comes with playing for a club of Manchester United’s stature.
The poor performances of these signings have only worsened United’s on-field struggles, leaving fans increasingly frustrated with the club’s transfer activity. The extent of these issues became particularly clear during a recent match against Aston Villa, where over £330 million ($430 million) worth of Ten Hag’s signings were left on the bench, highlighting the scale of mismanagement in player recruitment.
Despite the significant investment made under Ten Hag, Manchester United’s performances have consistently fallen short of expectations, and the manager’s future at the club is now under serious doubt. His recruitment decisions, in particular, have come under fire, though there have been a few notable exceptions.
One of the standout success stories from his time at United has been the signing of Noussair Mazraoui. Brought in from Bayern Munich for a relatively low fee of £13 million, Mazraoui has quickly established himself as the team’s first-choice right-back, replacing Aaron Wan-Bissaka with his technical ability and versatility, qualities that had been missing in the position.
While Mazraoui’s arrival has been one of the few positives in Ten Hag’s transfer dealings, it also highlights the broader issues plaguing the club. The fact that Mazraoui, who played a supporting role at Bayern Munich, has now become a key player at Manchester United, underscores the significant difference in quality between the two clubs.
As United’s struggles continue, the pressure on Erik ten Hag is mounting. His questionable transfer decisions, combined with the team’s poor performances, have left him on shaky ground, with many speculating that he could become the first managerial casualty under Manchester United’s new ownership by INEOS.
Although there have been glimpses of promise, such as the impact made by Mazraoui, the overall situation remains bleak, and Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford is looking increasingly precarious.
