Ten Hag can no longer hide behind Man United ownership woes\u060c<\/p>\n
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United’s drawn-out takeover saga, about to enter its 12th month, has provided useful cover for Erik ten Hag’s shortcomings. However, the Glazers’ deliberations can only distract attention for so long, and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City might have put the spotlight on the Old Trafford manager with Sunday’s 3-0 victory.<\/p>\n
Two goals from Erling Haaland and a late strike from Phil Foden left City fans chanting “Mind the Gap!” to their neighbors in crisis. And this gap is widening.<\/p>\n
Being taught a football<\/a> lesson at home by City has become a worrying sign of what is to come for United managers since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. A 3-0 defeat to Manuel Pellegrini’s City in 2014 precipitated the departure of David Moyes after less than 12 months in charge, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was gone less than a month after an extremely one-sided 2-0 defeat to Guardiola’s side in 2021.<\/p>\n – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)<\/strong><\/p>\n Ten Hag is far from suffering the same fate as Moyes and Solskjaer, but the former Ajax manager is not safe from the sack due to the results. He has avoided scrutiny because the only concern among his superiors at Old Trafford is whether the club will be sold or subject to a new football board run by potential investors INEOS.<\/p>\n None of his predecessors, including Jos\u00e9 Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, have started a season as poorly as Ten Hag’s side, with the defeat United’s fifth defeat in 10 Premier League matches. There is so much uncertainty due to the prolonged buyout situation, that the dismal form on the field has gone largely unnoticed.<\/p>\n Until now. Ten Hag’s decision to replace striker Rasmus H\u00f8jlund midway through the second half provoked loud boos from United fans, a clear sign of trouble in the stands<\/a> – trouble that had previously been directed at the Glazers.<\/p>\n