53-year-old Man Utd player “wouldn’t even want” to take Ten Hag’s spot at Old Trafford
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is now under the cosh after leading the club to their worst start to a campaign of the Premier League era, though transfer insider Dean Jones has given a damning verdict of how a potential replacement would feel about the ill-fated project.
The Dutchman, who had previously shone at Ajax, will have to pick up the pace in order for his position as head coach to be deemed safe.
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The club’s latest calamity, a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, is the exact embodiment of their current state. Their European curtain-raiser against Bayern Munich also ended in a similar manner as Thomas Tuchel’s well-drilled outfit handed them a 4-3 defeat, which now means the Red Devils sit rock bottom of the competition’s Group A.
Domestically, their form has been equally turgid. Having lost four of their seven opening fixtures in the Premier League, Ten Hag’s men sit in 10th spot and, therefore, questions have been raised of his ability to steer this once-brilliant side back to widespread greatness.
The heat on his credibility slightly eased as Manchester United tore through a heavily-rotated Crystal Palace in a midweek Carabao Cup fixture, though all their hard work was undone as they lost 1-0 to Roy Hodgson and his men just days later. As such, clamour around his suitability has been questioned as the former Ajax manager comes to terms with his mountainous challenge now on the horizon.
That being said, The Guardian have reported that Ten Hag’s position in the Old Trafford hotseat is secure for the time being as the club’s hierarchy remain calm in his ability to take the side forward in the long term.
53-year-old manager would turn down opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag – Dean Jones
On the 13-time Premier League winner’s current state of play, transfer insider Jones suggested that potential Ten Hag replacement Diego Simeone, who currently plies his trade at Atlético Madrid, would not be interested in the opportunity. The reliable reporter did suggest, however, that someone of Simeone’s ilk would be capable of changing the culture currently swamping the club to inferiority. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said…
When will Altay Bayindir play ahead of Andre Onana?
Much has been made of Andre Onana’s burgeoning relationship with the Manchester United back line given they have been extremely porous in defence, though it is important to remember the Cameroon international was not the only shot stopper to join the ranks in the summer months.
Altay Bayindir, formerly of Fenerbahce, was signed for a mere £4.3m, per BBC Sport, but is still yet to make his debut in Red Devils threads. Prior to the club’s forgettable night under the lights against Galatasaray, Ten Hag had hinted that a start for Bayindir could be on the cards.
The Turkish international, who had kept two clean sheets in four 2023/24 outings before making his switch to the Premier League powerhouse, is understandably going to serve as Onana’s understudy while at the Old Trafford-based outfit, with the view of using him in net for dead rubber games in the Carabao Cup and less important Champions League meetings.
With much work to do to secure qualification into the knockout rounds of football’s most coveted competition and retaining the League Cup now high on the club’s priority list, however, it may be that the 25-year-old will continue to warm the bench until the perfect opportunity presents itself.
What next for Manchester United?
Next on Ten Hag’s plate is a visit from Thomas Frank’s Brentford side, a team who have not seen success at United’s stomping ground since their return to the topflight, having lost 3-0 and 1-0. A trip to Bramall Lane then succeeds a clash with the Bees as Ten Hag looks to defeat a struggling Sheffield United.
The club will then look to put right their poor start to their Champions League as they welcome Rasmus Hojlund’s former club Copenhagen to England before the small matter of Manchester City arrives at the shores of Old Trafford as Pep Guardiola’s imperious side look to emulate the 2022/23 success against their cross-city rivals.
