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Manchester United’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend underlined a woeful start to the new campaign.
The manner of the early performances have left Erik ten Hag fighting for his place in the Old Trafford dugout, with the players looking devoid of any confidence at present.
Ten Hag may well pay the price for another slow start but the Dutchman’s coaching staff are said to be frustrated with many of United’s first team stars.
As reported by The Mirror, Ten Hag’s coaches have slammed “pathetic” individual errors made by some of the players and feel unnecessary pressure has been heaped on the manager as a result.
United have struggled to build from the back in their opening fixtures, giving the ball away in dangerous areas, leading to the concession of cheap chances and goals.
The crushing defeat at the hands of Liverpool saw United players give up possession far too easily, gifting the game to their arch rivals.
Similar criticisms can be levelled in regard to the defeat to Spurs, with United far too passive in their defending throughout the game.
Only Andre Onana saved United from a hammering at the hands of Ange Postecoglou’s side, who sliced through Ten Hag’s men time and time again in front of the Old Trafford crowd.
It was the defending on Micky van de Ven’s unopposed run and cross for the opener that was labelled as “pathetic” by one of Ten Hag’s inner circle and they fear further errors could cost him his job.
FC Twente were also giftwrapped an equaliser in the opening game of the Europa League resulting in unnecessary dropped points in the competition.
Three losses from six in the Premier League and a goal difference of minus three underlines the awful start and Ten Hag knows he needs a quick change in fortunes.
United face away fixtures against FC Porto and Aston Villa before the week is out and the testing looking ties will go a long way to deciding the Dutchman’s fate at the Theatre of Dreams.
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