Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wore the haunted expression of someone nearing the end of their journey after Tottenham Hotspur delivered a humiliating defeat at Old Trafford.
Since United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the newly restructured hierarchy decided to back Ten Hag over the summer, he has found himself in a precarious situation, just one bad loss away from a crisis and relentless criticism.
By this measure, the 54-year-old is quickly running out of time following a performance from United that was as chaotic, ineffective, and undisciplined as any he has overseen during his tenure.
While winning the EFL Cup 18 months ago and last season’s thrilling FA Cup final against Manchester City provided some high points that kept Ten Hag in his position, it doesn’t get much worse than this latest display.
On the other hand, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has faced scrutiny himself due to a sluggish start to the season, but Sunday’s 3-0 victory marked a significant step in his revival, achieving four consecutive wins since the north London derby loss to Arsenal.
In stark contrast, United was a disorganized mess. As rain poured down on the empty red seats at Old Trafford, vacated by loyal supporters, the pressing question was whether Ten Hag can endure this situation—and if he can, for how long?
He appears to be increasingly out of his depth. Having previously pulled back from the brink, most notably over the summer, he now finds himself teetering on the edge once more.
While there were glimpses of defensive improvement earlier this season, that felt far removed during Sunday’s debacle at Old Trafford. It truly felt like the end—if not now, then certainly very soon.
