Ten Hag leaves Ratcliffe with extra questions as Man United stumble

MANCHESTER — Erik ten Hag is aware of he’s now within the survival section of his profession as Manchester United supervisor, and his response to Scott McTominay’s stoppage-time miss within the 2-2 draw in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur at Outdated Trafford was proof of his vulnerability in entrance of the person who will quickly be his boss: Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ten Hag threw his fingers within the air after which put his head in them. McTominay was unmarked, 6 yards out, as he jumped to move Alejandro Garnacho’s cross into the web to make it 3-2. However the Scotland midfielder despatched his effort excessive over Guglielmo Vicario’s crossbar and the win that Ten Hag desperately wanted evaporated, leaving United with one level from a recreation by which that they had twice taken the lead.

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United and Ten Hag have had loads of setbacks this season, in fact. That is why they sit in seventh place within the Premier League, eight factors adrift of the highest 4 and 13 factors behind leaders Liverpool.

However whereas all the earlier stumbles had been performed out in opposition to a backdrop of uncertainty in regards to the membership’s possession and a punishing harm record, Sunday marked a change of path for United and Ten Hag.

Ratcliffe was watching United for the primary time since affirmation of his £1.3 billion funding to take a 25% stake of the membership final month — the deal nonetheless needs to be ratified by the Premier League — and his presence alongside Sir Alex Ferguson within the administrators’ field signalled the approaching modifications to be made on the membership, which is able to see the billionaire and his associates take over soccer operations at United from the Glazer household, who will retain a majority stake as homeowners.

Ratcliffe desires to sharpen up United’s scouting and recruitment, and that’s absolutely music to Ten Hag’s ears, but when the previous Ajax coach is to profit from the brand new construction he has to meet his aspect of the cut price by exhibiting progress when it comes to outcomes and performances on the pitch. After the draw in opposition to Tottenham, he may have left Ratcliffe with extra questions than solutions.

Questions corresponding to: How did United handle simply 36% possession in a house recreation? Why choose the restricted right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back? Why was teenager Kobbie Mainoo repeatedly uncovered as holding midfielder whereas more-experienced teammates watched on? And, in the end, how has a staff containing so many gifted and costly gamers gained simply 10 of 21 league video games this season?

Tottenham had been in a position to equalise twice, by Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur, due to poor defending by United. However they’re not at all the primary staff to reap the benefits of that exact shortcoming in Ten Hag’s aspect.

United are a staff of “moments gamers” — these able to flashes of brilliance, however hardly ever the extra mundane necessities of business and teamwork. At instances in opposition to Spurs, they obtained in one another’s method, misplaced possession with careless and lazy flicks and failed to identify easy passes. However Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring with an unstoppable left-footed shot after which created Marcus Rashford’s objective with a uncommon show of understanding as he performed a neat one-two with the England ahead. Highs and lows.

Ten Hag, nonetheless, is meant to carry all of it collectively and iron out the failings. That’s his job as supervisor, however he frequently fails to take action and that’s what will concern Ratcliffe.

Within the reverse technical space, Spurs supervisor Ange Postecoglou discovered a approach to overcome his staff twice, falling behind regardless of being with out key gamers together with main scorer Son Heung-min, prime creator James Maddison and the tough winger Dejan Kulusevski.

Postecoglou’s aspect appear to be a staff. Irrespective of who performs or who’s lacking, they’ve a method of taking part in, a method, and it’s why they’ve over-performed this season. Do not forget that Postecoglou additionally noticed Harry Kane go away the membership for Bayern Munich this summer season, denying him the providers of one of many world’s best strikers.

Ten Hag has proven treasured little of Postecoglou’s potential to take care of adversity and that’s one more reason why he must step it as much as persuade Ratcliffe that he ought to have a future as United supervisor. However for weeks now, the Dutchman has mentioned that outcomes and performances will enhance when injured gamers return.

Towards Spurs, Lisandro Martínez made his first look since September and Casemiro was within the squad for the primary time for the reason that starting of November. Harry Maguire and Mason Mount are additionally again in coaching and might be concerned within the FA Cup fourth spherical tie in opposition to Newport or Eastleigh in two weeks. So the mitigating components are starting to vanish — readability and stability is arriving within the boardroom and the remedy room is beginning to empty.

It is time for Ten Hag to ship, as a result of Ratcliffe wants causes to imagine he’s the best man for the job.