Manchester United supporters have grown used to seeing unwanted records being smashed under Erik ten Hag since the start of last season. The Dutchman may have lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his first two years in charge, but the underlying numbers fuel rising discontent across the fanbase.
Last season, United lost 14 of their 38 Premier League games and conceded 58 goals, both embarrassing new records.
It resulted in the club’s lowest-ever Premier League finish (eighth) following the worst Champions League campaign of their illustrious history.
Ten Hag guided his side to just one victory in their six group games to sit rock bottom behind Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
The Red Devils tasted defeat 19 times in all competitions, the highest total since the 1977/78 season. FA Cup or not, he was fortunate to remain in charge.
This term has started in the same ilk. United have won just two of their opening seven league matches, only scoring five times.
Their eight-point tally is a new low at this stage in a Premier League season; they last scored as few goals 52 years ago.
Worryingly, the above facts don’t even scratch the surface in terms of the unwanted records Ten Hag has accumulated during his two-year reign.
The next one he’s at risk of inheriting would be the worst of all as United ponder his future in the Old Trafford dugout.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Joel Glazer, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox were reportedly all present at an executive committee summit in London yesterday.
It was a long-standing meeting, which they plan to conduct once a month, but Ten Hag’s future was expected to stand at the top of the agenda.
With United on a five-match winless run in all competitions, as well as suffering back-to-back 3-0 defeats in their last two home league games, his position is thought to be at serious risk.
If Ratcliffe, Glazer and Brailsford agree to pull the trigger in the coming days, Ten Hag will become the earliest sacking in a season in the club’s history.
David Moyes was sacked in April, near the end of his first season, after inheriting the impossible job of following up Sir Alex Ferguson.
Louis van Gaal left at the end of his second campaign, having just lifted the FA Cup, while Jose Mourinho received the axe in December of his third season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also lasted until a third year but was sent packing in November. Ten Hag is staring in the face of an October dismissal.
If United retain their faith beyond the current international break, the Dutchman could still pick up the record if he can’t overturn his side’s fortunes before November 21.
