Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, who has been set to lead the team from the 2022-2023 season.
Having previously managed Bayern Munich's second team and coached at Utrecht,
he achieved tremendous success during his four-year tenure at Ajax.
Not only did he secure four consecutive Eredivisie titles during these four seasons,
but also, making it to the semi-finals in the Champions League, the pinnacle of football,
is an impressive accomplishment that cannot be understated, regardless of what anyone may say.
I would consider the first season led by such a manager at Manchester United quite successful.
Of course, there were challenges.
Bringing in a center-back like Lisandro Martínez, whose physicality might be questioned in a league where it is crucial,
and signing Casemiro, pursued by Franck De Jong, raises questions about whether it aligns with ten Hag's preferences.
Also, acquiring Antony for 100 million euro – is that the right move?
However, amid these concerns, the team managed to finish third in the league, securing a spot in the Champions League once again.
They also won the League Cup and reached the final of the FA Cup.
Considering these achievements in the first season, I believe it's fair to label it as a considerable success.
The problem lies in the current, second season.
The achievements of the last season seem to have vanished into thin air.
Currently, they are positioned at 8th in the league standings, and in the Champions League, they were eliminated in the group stage, finishing 4th.
Even the League Cup, which they won last season, saw an early exit.
It's not an exaggeration to say that the current performance is terribly disappointing.
What exactly happened in just one season to cause such a drastic change in the team's dynamics?
Before delving into it, it's not that I'm particularly inclined to defend ten Hag personally, but I don't think firing him right now is the solution. The reasons for this will be discussed shortly.
Firstly, there's an excessive amount of noise both within and around the squad.
Surprisingly, many people don't pay much attention to this aspect.
However, modern professional sports teams are not just simple football clubs; they are also giant businesses. Whether it's a business or a team, ultimately, it involves people working together. When there is noise, internal members are inevitably affected.
Noise can come in various forms.
First, there's the issue of ownership.
Rumors about the Glazer family's continuous ownership rumors emerged from the end of 2022, when they owned 100% of the shares. Stories about Qatar capital coming in, someone else taking over the shares, or the Glazers leaving circulated. The ownership saga lasted for more than a year, and the recent conclusion is that Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 25% stake.
Let's consider it as if you were working for a company. Even if you're in a development role unrelated to management, if rumors about a change in the company's management spread in all directions for over a year, with constant talk about the company being sold or not, would your focus be 100% on your work?
I believe football is no different. Yes, players should focus on playing well, regardless of changes in management or other factors. However, being human, when all sorts of rumors are swirling around, concentration might inevitably waver.
There are also other sources of noise.
Antony is currently under investigation for an assault case, and before him, Maguire was involved in an assault case in Greece, which resulted in a suspended sentence. The Greenwood incident was a significant event, and there were articles about Rashford's brother being arrested.
Sancho also had conflicts with the manager.
With various incidents emerging from individuals and those around them, it's inevitable that things become chaotic.
Secondly, there were an excessive number of injuries, particularly since the end of last season.
If we count players who missed more than 5 games due to injuries, it surpasses an entire team squad. Players like Lisandro Martínez, Casemiro, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Martial, Eriksen, Reguilón, Amrabat, Malasia, and Mason Mount were among those affected.
Especially, the absence of key players like Lisandro, Casemiro, Varane, and Shaw, who are considered essential to ten Hag's tactics, was a significant loss.
Whether it's due to accumulated fatigue from playing until the World Cup last season or simply unfortunate timing, managing a squad with so many injuries, big and small, becomes challenging.
The third aspect, closely linked to the second, is the disappearance of tactical details.
Ten Hag has been renowned for his detailed tactics since his time at Ajax.
Much like Pep Guardiola, he anticipates every situation and has a specific tactical plan for each scenario.
As a simple example, for Ten Hag's preferred build-up process, having a left-footed center-back and a left-footed full-back is considered optimal.
However, with players like Lisandro, Luke Shaw, and even Malasia sidelined for extended periods due to injuries, Manchester United's back four still predominantly features right-footed players. (Even though Luke Shaw returned briefly, it was a short period.)
If you question whether the difference between left and right foot matters significantly, the answer is yes. Especially in a league where not only our team but also opponents are of the highest level, small details can change a lot. In such an environment, even a small difference in one's foot can influence a step or a tempo, potentially altering a lot in the game.
Yet, it's not feasible to force a right-footed player to use their left foot naturally.
Additionally, the constant change in the list of injured players makes it challenging to implement and adapt detailed tactics.
Just looking at the center-back combination, during 21 league games, the starting combination changed a staggering 9 times. Most teams, even if they change other positions, tend to keep a stable core, especially with center-backs, holding midfielders, and strikers. These positions require consistent coordination and integration of tactical details.
Among these, the center-back partnership is particularly crucial. However, changing it 9 times during 21 league games leaves little physical time to incorporate and implement detailed tactical plans.
The fourth issue is the underperformance of the attacking front.
Once the ball reaches the opponent's box, it becomes primarily the responsibility of the attackers, regardless of tactics. However, this season, every member of Manchester United's attacking front has struggled.
The lack of decisiveness is particularly severe.
Bruno Fernandes, who excels in threading key passes, creating opportunities, and has one of the best stats in Europe's top five leagues, consistently produces lower actual goals (xG) for the team.
Surprisingly, in terms of league statistics, the team's top scorer is even the central midfielder, McTominay.
For some unknown reason, Rashford, who was thriving last season, seems to have lost his touch. Players like Garnacho, Højlund, and Antony have also struggled to contribute significantly to the attack.
Certainly, these reasons do not entirely absolve ten Hag of responsibility.
The underperformance of players he brought in through his choices raises doubts about his scouting abilities. Moreover, it's undeniable that there are shortcomings in both tactical details and adaptability.
Ultimately, the responsibility for the team's performance falls heavily on the coach.
However, as I mentioned earlier, I believe it is not the right time to dismiss ten Hag.
Firstly, there is no viable alternative at the moment. Even if ten Hag were to be dismissed immediately, finding a satisfactory replacement for his position is a considerable challenge.
Moreover, time is needed.
The ownership saga, as discussed earlier, has come to an end.
There have been ongoing changes in the management, and the roles of the board and the team management are beginning to be properly defined.
Players who were sidelined due to injuries are gradually returning, especially the core players who were absent for an extended period.
Signs of resolution to significant issues are emerging, so it's necessary to observe how things unfold in the future. We've seen how ten Hag influenced the team during times when these major issues weren't present. Considering his positive impact during a period without these significant problems, it's reasonable to give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he handles the team under more favorable circumstances.
If the situation were as it is now, regardless of the coach, I would maintain this stance. If the team had consistently underperformed for two seasons straight, I might have argued for immediate dismissal.
However, given the glimpses of positive performance, it's worth waiting and expecting improvement after various issues have been addressed.
