Manchester United stand by Erik ten Hag – but has he already passed the point of no return?

Manchester United is still determined to keep Erik ten Hag as their manager. However, the club is at a familiar point where the need for results might outweigh their desire to persist with him. Some individuals within Old Trafford already perceive the Dutch coach as displaying the same signs of defeat that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and David Moyes did towards the end of their tenures.

The key question is whether Ten Hag can turn things around in terms of results and performances. The issue at hand is that there are no indications on how this can be achieved. United has not just regressed, they have gone beyond that point.

Previous concerns have resurfaced with great force. This is precisely why a manager with the right personality and experience at top clubs is needed at Old Trafford, especially during times like these. Few football clubs have crises as loud and attention-grabbing as Manchester United, which is why hardly any coach manages to survive.

Did they make the right decision in appointing a manager whose most notable role was at a modern Ajax, disregarding their lack of a comparable leadership structure? This is significant because it prepares a coach for situations like these.

The growing concern with Ten Hag is that he doesn’t possess the ability to navigate his way out of this mess. The response to setbacks has consistently been to enforce more discipline without providing any positive reinforcement. While this approach may have worked initially, it has gradually become tiresome. Several factors have contributed to the breakdown in the crucial bond between Ten Hag and his squad. Although he had it for extended periods last season, it is now in danger of being irreparable, especially at a club like Manchester United.

Such commentary naturally shifts the focus back to the players and the composition of the squad. However, this is a problem that predates Ten Hag and represents a much larger issue. United has difficulty revamping their squad, resulting in some players staying for years. This limits complete commitment from the players when a new manager arrives.

One player who arrived under Ten Hag immediately noticed the “weak” atmosphere in the dressing room, lacking strong personalities. It is even believed that the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool last season somehow broke something within the team, particularly because it followed their Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United.

Once again, the word “toxic” is being used to describe the situation, a term frequently associated with United over the past decade.

However, rather than sealing Ten Hag’s fate, these factors might be what saves him. There is an understanding that these problems surpass the influence of any individual manager. Moreover, there is now the possibility of wider changes behind the scenes.

Talks are progressing positively for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to acquire a 25% stake in the club, with negotiations involving restructuring the football side of the club. Ineos had previously shown interest in Ten Hag for their owned club, OGC Nice, so Ratcliffe’s arrival could work in the manager’s favor. An improved football hierarchy could also result in better coaching from Ten Hag.

However, the fact that many of the manager’s requested high-profile signings have been disappointments so far does not help. Up to £300m has been spent with little positive impact on the team. While Casemiro had a significant influence last season, criticisms about paying a large sum for a player in the later stages of his career are still valid.

This is where the pivotal point lies. United’s midfield is central to many problems, especially in terms of being overrun by more intense opposition. It is the reason why they struggle to control games, which was one of the aspects Ten Hag was expected to improve.

Fulham and FC Copenhagen, as well as other teams this season, will see an opportunity to take advantage of United’s weaknesses. When a team continues to lose, even the most well-structured football organizations recognize the need for a managerial change.