As the 2023-24 season ends, there is one big question mark above the heads of everybody associated with Manchester United. And that question is whether Erik ten Hag should stay or leave Manchester United. Ten Hag became manager of Manchester United in the Spring of 2022, coming from Ajax. Ten Hag had an excellent first season at United, finishing third in the Premier League, winning the EFL Cup, being a runner-up in the FA Cup, and being a UEFA Europa League quarter-finalist. However, the 2023-24 season has United fans divided on whether Ten Hag should stay or go.
Manchester United have been mediocre since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and Ten Hag’s time at United has certainly reflected that. Despite a first good season, United is currently eighth in the Premier League and was eliminated early from the UEFA Champions League by weak times like Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Many fans blame these poor performances on Ten Hag, but other factors affected United’s poor season. Constant injuries have affected United as crucial players like Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount have missed a significant part of the season. However, some fans believe that Ten Hag should stay because the backroom staff have given him the wrong players. Even if Ten Hag were to be released, most fans would not need help finding a world-class manager to fill his shoes. “Julian Nagelsmann just signed a new contract with the National German Team,” and nobody seems to be joining United. Although Ten Hag has made an impression in English football, most United fans are still divided on whether he should stay or go.
In the 2021-22 season, club legend Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was sacked as manager after a 4-1 defeat to soon-to-be relegated Watford. Famous club director Ralf Rangnick took over until the end of the season. On the 21st of April, 2022, the club announced that Ten Hag signed a three-year contract with the Reds. During the summer of 2022, United fans were ready for the season as ten Hag brought in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, and Antony for around 300 million pounds. That season ended as United finished 3rd in the league, behind Manchester City and Arsenal. United also won the EFL Cup as they failed to beat City in the FA Cup Final.
Despite a first good season, it all went down for Manchester United in the 2023-24 season. With the season-ending in May, United finished the season in eighth place, their worst-ever finish. Also, United finished with a negative goal difference and failed to finish in a European position for the first time in nine years. Many fans blame the inferior tactics that ten Hag presents in the game, but there is much more to the problems at Old Trafford. First, the club owners do not back the manager, nor do they need to provide him with the right signings. Ten Hag wanted a young Frenkie de Jong but ended up with an aging Casemiro. Also, a recurring injury crisis has prevented United from consistently fielding their best XI. Ten Hag stated that United could only field their best players in a 4-3 win against Wolves in February 2024.
As the 2023-24 season ends, there is a game that might determine ten Hag’s future at Manchester United. United will play Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on the 25th of May, 2024. United go into the game with little hope, as they already lost to them last season with a stronger squad. Should United lose significantly, ten Hag can consider himself unemployed. However, if United were victorious, they could play in the UEFA Europa League and not end up playing any European football next season. Erik Ten Hag could also receive more backing from the sporting directors and finally bring United to the top.