Erik ten Hag faces mounting pressure at Manchester United after his former club, FC Twente, thwarted his team at Old Trafford. United began their Europa League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Dutch side on Wednesday night, raising further concerns over the club’s inconsistent form.
Christian Eriksen provided a brief moment of relief for the home side by firing a powerful shot into the top corner during the first half. However, the lead didn’t last long as Sam Lammers capitalized on Eriksen’s error, smashing the ball past Andre Onana at the near post to equalize for Twente.
Twente’s goalkeeper, Lars Unnerstall, proved to be a key figure, producing a series of remarkable saves, including deflections off his own defenders, to deny United any further goals. The result has cast a spotlight on Ten Hag, whose side has won just two of their opening five Premier League matches, struggling to find consistency and a cutting edge in attack.
Currently sitting 11th in the Premier League with seven points, United’s attacking woes are clear — three of their five league goals came against relegation-threatened Southampton. The 7-0 demolition of League One side Barnsley in the Carabao Cup seemed to mask their underlying issues, but the real challenges lie ahead, with no easy fixtures on the horizon.
Ten Hag’s situation hasn’t been helped by the fact that, despite having nearly a full squad, United are still struggling. The return to fitness of Rasmus Højlund and Mason Mount is a boost, while Tyrell Malacia is close to coming back from injury. However, United’s squad depth has done little to steady the ship, with their upcoming schedule only set to increase the pressure.
The next three fixtures will be pivotal for Ten Hag’s future. United first host a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Ange Postecoglou’s side looking formidable in the Premier League. Next week, they will face a challenging Europa League away clash against FC Porto. The final fixture before the international break is a tricky visit to Aston Villa on October 6, a match that could prove decisive for Ten Hag.
Ten Hag is well aware that this poor run of form cannot continue. United’s new leadership team, spearheaded by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford, are unlikely to tolerate mediocrity after investing £180 million during the summer transfer window. An international break offers the perfect opportunity for club officials to reassess and potentially make changes if there isn’t a marked improvement.
In the summer, Ten Hag narrowly retained his job following United’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, but there were clear signs that Ratcliffe and Brailsford were considering other options, including Thomas Tuchel. Now, they expect to see results that reflect the club’s ambitions.
Ten Hag did not hold back in his post-match interview, criticizing his team’s second-half performance. Twente’s equalizer highlighted United’s defensive frailties, as right-back Bart van Rooij was allowed to run unchecked up the pitch, before dispossessing Eriksen in a dangerous area and setting up Lammers for a simple finish.
“We are very ambitious, and when you have ambition, you must perform and prove the point,” Ten Hag said. “Today, especially in the second half, we were too complacent. We didn’t finish the job, and as a team, you must be consistent and keep going. In the second half, we dropped our level and gave away the goal.”
With critical fixtures looming, Ten Hag must rally his side and find solutions fast, or risk his tenure at Old Trafford coming to an abrupt end. The next few weeks will determine whether he can turn the tide or if United’s hierarchy will need to take action.
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