Erik ten Hag and Manchester United: A Group Chat Post-Mortem

Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United has come to an end, sparking a wave of opinions and reflections on what went right and what went very wrong during his tenure. From the exhilarating highs of winning the FA Cup against rivals Manchester City to the disheartening lows of inconsistent league performances and a series of media controversies, Ten Hag’s era has stirred a significant debate among fans, analysts, and pundits alike. The complexity of his time at the club showcases a mixture of success and failure that begs for analysis and understanding.

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In this group chat-style analysis, four of our staff writers offer their unique perspectives on Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United. With insights ranging from philosophical clashes to tactical adjustments and management decisions, each voice builds a layered understanding of where it all went wrong for the Dutch manager. Let’s dive in and explore the end of an era at Old Trafford.

The Initial Reaction

Sander:
Well, it’s official—Ten Hag is no longer at the helm of Manchester United. I wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on this development. Was he truly out of his depth, or was it simply a matter of bad luck? There are so many factors to consider, and I think it would be beneficial to break it down together. Let’s dive into this complex situation and see where we land.

Josh:
“INEOS had a tough decision to make from the start. Ten Hag led United to its worst league finish since 1990, but he also delivered that incredible FA Cup win against City, which stands out as a high point in United’s post-Ferguson era. It felt like the club had finally turned a corner, especially when you consider the tactical adjustments he made toward the end of the season. His implementation of tighter pressing and more aggressive play gave some hope for the future. But INEOS was clearly conflicted—they extended his contract and supported his preferences with big signings like Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Yet, despite these fresh faces and some promising shifts in tactics, the team remained inconsistent, leaving many to question whether the investment would yield the desired results.”

Club statement: Erik ten Hag.#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 28, 2024

A Philosophical Perspective

Emmanuel:
“During his caretaker stewardship over the club, Ralf Rangnick believed that Manchester United required ‘open-heart surgery’ to resolve their issues. Yet, two and a half years later, it feels like Erik ten Hag has overseen an old boys’ reunion. The club backed him with signings that cost an astonishing £600 million during his time in charge. Five players arrived directly from his old post at Ajax, and Sofyan Amrabat, who accompanied him at Utrecht, made the transition as well. Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount were also players he had on his radar while he was still managing in the Netherlands.

While it’s not uncommon for managers to lean on familiar faces to support a new project, simply bringing in trusted allies isn’t sufficient. The qualities of the players must align with the demands of a club facing new challenges. The most glaring example of this oversight is Antony, the club’s most expensive signing at £85 million. He was not particularly prolific in the Eredivisie and has faced severe struggles adapting to English football. When Ten Hag remarked, ‘I can’t play like Ajax’ in the Premier League, it indicated a muted recognition of this significant mistake.

Ten Hag 🗣

"I can't play like Ajax because I have different players."pic.twitter.com/Ju1Hda6mvx

— UnitedReds (@UnitedRedscom) November 3, 2023

Against this backdrop, Ten Hag has denied accusations that his agent, Kees Vos, has been meddling with club affairs. Vos’ agency, SEG, was responsible for bringing in Rasmus Højlund as a marquee signing for £64 million in 2023. Regardless of Vos’ level of influence, the biases inherent in Ten Hag’s squad-building approach have not been thoroughly considered. The operating table for Manchester United continues to beckon, signaling the need for deep, systemic changes.”

The Struggle with Management

Achraf:
“Emmanuel, that’s an excellent point! Sticking to one’s convictions can be incredibly hard when thrown into the chaos of a new league. Ten Hag abandoned his own proven style and veered toward a transition-based system, which led to an identity crisis for the team. The consequences were clear: it backfired. For Manchester United, it was either total football or nothing. By ditching his foundational philosophy, Ten Hag lost the framework that could have provided the consistency the team desperately needed. He seemed to be caught in a dilemma, attempting to find a balance rather than establishing a clear identity.”

Gaurav:
“Some managers excel, and others just don’t. For me, his tactical knowledge wasn’t the only problem—his man-management skills stood out as a significant issue. Take a look at Ronaldo’s exit: instead of managing his minutes effectively, Ten Hag forced him out of the club. And then there was Sancho—his public comments about Sancho’s performances only seemed to highlight his inability to manage egos. Now, look at how well Sancho is doing at Chelsea. It seemed like Ten Hag couldn’t effectively handle senior players or motivate them when they needed guidance. Additionally, his summer signings lacked a clear vision and direction. With no cohesive blueprint in place, he kept making reactive changes, which led to a disjointed squad and ultimately to his downfall.”

Unpacking the Chaos

Sander:
We’re seeing a pattern here: was his failure more about a philosophical clash or tactical inadequacy? Emmanuel, what do you think—did Ten Hag fail because he tried to adapt rather than sticking to his Ajax-rooted style?

Emmanuel:
“I’d say that’s exactly it. He entered the Premier League with one of football’s most distinctive philosophies, only to abandon it when things got tough. Total football isn’t merely a tactic; it’s an overarching ideology that encompasses everything from training methods to matchday strategies. By adapting to his players’ existing style rather than imposing his own, he created the chaos we saw in his second season. Testing one’s convictions in a hostile environment is how strong systems thrive, and Ten Hag’s failure to hold onto his philosophical foundation was akin to a philosopher denying his own beliefs. It was a fundamental miscalculation that ultimately cost him.”

Achraf:
“It’s a classic story, really—a manager caught between his principles and the harsh realities of the Premier League. Ten Hag had moments of brilliance, such as the FA Cup victory, but abandoning his convictions in such a high-stakes environment proved to be his undoing. In football, especially at a club as storied as Manchester United, unity of vision is paramount. He lost that when he switched to a different style, and it became evident in the team’s performances on the pitch.”

Facing Media Pressure

Gaurav:
“And let’s not forget that he also struggled significantly under media pressure. His demeanor often screamed frustration and confusion, which is not a great look for a manager in a high-profile position. A manager can only maintain the facade of control for so long before the truth becomes apparent. In the end, he resembled a sculptor trying to shape a statue from stone that simply refused to take form. Although he had moments of brilliance, he ultimately couldn’t make his ideas work consistently with the squad he had assembled, leading to a frustrating cycle of results.”

Josh:
“To be fair, there’s only so much tactical adjustment that can remedy a situation when man-management is lacking. Look at how players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford responded to him. Ten Hag never really got the senior players fully onboard with his vision, and it showed on the pitch. He might have been a capable coach, but managing personalities, expectations, and philosophies at Manchester United proved to be a tall order, one he could not navigate successfully.”

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale

The story of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United is a fascinating one, marked by a philosophical compromise, tactical inconsistency, and challenges in man-management. Each of these elements contributed to his downfall, creating a perfect storm of obstacles that Ten Hag was ultimately unable to overcome. For some, the lingering question remains: was Ten Hag simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, should he have been much more strict in sticking to his original Ajax philosophy, or is his style fundamentally incompatible with the demands of English football?

The journey ends here, but the questions linger—an enduring enigma for fans, pundits, and future managers alike. As we reflect on this turbulent chapter in Manchester United’s storied history, one can only wonder how the club will navigate its path forward and whether it will find a manager capable of uniting its rich heritage with modern footballing demands. The lessons learned from Ten Hag’s tenure could serve as both a warning and a guide for those who will come after him.

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