The Manchester United job is proving “too big” for Erik ten Hag, according to Richard Keys, after the Red Devils were outclassed in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
That loss is their fifth in the opening ten Premier League games as the Dutchman sets unwanted records for his start to the campaign. His debut season gave room for optimism but, after another summer of heavy spending, United are well off the pace.
Pressure is mounting on Ten Hag, who saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dominate them at Old Trafford. It isn’t the first time United have been second best on their own patch this season and, despite being appointed less than 18 months ago, Keys believes the job is beyond the former Ajax boss.
He wrote in his blog: “Clearly the job is too big for Ten Hag. Clearly he’s lost his players. Clearly his ‘game plans’ are nonsense. Does he really believe that Utd were ‘toe to toe’ with City in the first-half? Clearly he’s deluded if he does.
“That was City’s easiest three points of the season. Brighton made them work harder. And Wolves. Even Sheffield United gave them more of a run for their money.”
Ten Hag was able to end United’s trophy drought that dated back to 2017 when he delivered the Carabao Cup at Wembley less than a year ago, but even last season there were some harsh lessons, which included humiliating drubbings at the likes of City and Liverpool
The Dutchman has spoken about his need to raise standards on the red half of Manchester and his disciplinarian style has seen him make an example of several players. Cristiano Ronaldo was ushered out the door after being snubbed while Jadon Sancho is now being frozen out.
Keys claims his decision to take on certain individuals has now cost him the dressing room. “The tin pot tough guy has lost his silly fight with Sancho and had to back off from his scandalous treatment of Maguire,” he said. “Both battles cost him dressing room support.”Q CV men
Ten Hag claimed his side are going in the right direction despite their loss on Sunday. Despite that belief, United’s lack of playing identity under the Dutchman has been highlighted and cited as a major issue.
“His players look bored,” suggested Keys. “They’ve heard the same tedious post-match routines too often and are fed up taking the blame for ten Hag’s mistakes. There’s nothing new here – these are things I’ve been saying for months. As a side issue – name me a Dutch coach that’s been a success in the PL.”