Why Eric Ten Haag Deserves a Second Chance at Manchester United?

Owners, coaches and players make up the triangle that guarantees success in any football team. Erik Ten Haag might as well get sacked. Manchester United has four games left against: #Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton then the FA Cup Final against Manchester City. Let’s agree: yesterday’s game against Crystal Palace was a master class in failure. It was an epic shambolic performance. None of these games look winnable for #United. We must ask ourselves: how did Manchester United get here?

Who remembers when the Glazers put #Manchester United up for sale? It took over nine months before the “bras de fer” between Uber rich Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hammad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliff finally got resolved. The #Glazers, American business magnates focused on business rather than doing business and soccer. The current dilapidating physical state of Old Trafford in dire need of physical improvement is the most potent and patent sign of the state of affairs of the team. Thankfully, Sir Jim and INEOS have begun the new era by putting in place a structure made up of outstanding soccer gurus, #Blanc, #Berrada, #Ashworth and #Wilcox. So the first angle is in place! It shall not be business as usual at Manchester United. They guarantee the other two other angles.

For over a decade, the managers of Manchester United have been construed wrongly albeit as the problem. United's current manager Erik has a three year contract and his second year has been a disaster for reasons largely beyond his control. It will be a huge mistake to tamper with this angle of the triangle which has been the most tampered with since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013. To put things in perspective, since 2013, Manchester United has had six different coaches. Manchester City has had just two with Manuel Pelegríni from June 2013 to June 2016. For the last eight years, Pep Guardiola has been Manager of City! When Arsene #Wenger left #Arsenal in 2018, Unai Emery replaced him and lasted till November 2019. Mikel #Arteta took over in December 2019 and has been at the helm since then. Brendan Rogers coached Liverpool from May 2012 till the indefatigable Jurgen Klopp took over in October 2015. By that count, history teaches us that keeping the manager and giving him time and resources will yield desired results. Hence it seems warranted to give #Erik a chance to correct this year with a strong structure over him and if he fails again then helas!

For once, Manchester United should focus on the third angle which is the players. Remember that Manchester United has been very terrible with transfers and there is a unique opportunity now! There are at least ten players who should not be playing at #United! Yes, the unavoidable question one should ask is which of Man U’s current players can compete for fulltime positions in any of the current top tier teams in the #EPL. Let Manchester United take care of players and bring in new energy and then judge him on that. We all know where Manchester United's issues are! Shore up every department beginning from the defence, midfield and then the attack. Until Manchester United focuses on all three prongs at the same time, United will have this "kumbaya" dance for a while.