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As reported by Manchester Evening News, Erik ten Hag is facing increasing pressure as Manchester United manager, needing just a bit more time to settle new players, recover injured key figures, and unlock his squad’s full potential. However, the clock is ticking, and Ten Hag has already spent much of the time that had been afforded to him.
While the Dutchman has had moments of success at Old Trafford, his overall trajectory has been in decline over the past year. Now, his future relies on backing from Ineos and the vision of figures like Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox to focus beyond the current struggles on the pitch, holding onto the promise of brighter days ahead.
To secure that time, Ten Hag must deliver results quickly. A loss against Aston Villa on Sunday could seal his fate, but a victory might extend his tenure until the international break, with every win providing a brief reprieve.
Having been in charge for almost three seasons and approaching his 125th game, with over £600 million spent on new players, Ten Hag has had the opportunity to leave his mark. Yet, recent statistics and fan sentiment highlight a lack of visible progress, amplified by recurring injuries and off-field challenges.
If United fails to perform on Sunday, the post-match handshake with Villa boss Unai Emery could be particularly difficult. Emery’s time at Villa has shown that success doesn’t always demand extended patience.
Taking over a struggling Aston Villa side in November 2022, just months after Ten Hag’s appointment at United, Emery’s first match was a 3-1 victory against United. Despite initial challenges, Emery turned Villa’s fortunes around, lifting the club from 16th place to finish seventh in his debut season. The following year, they reached fourth place in the Premier League and made it to the Europa Conference League semi-finals. This season, Villa is currently sitting fifth and has already triumphed over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
While Villa has progressed steadily under Emery’s guidance, Manchester United seems to be moving in the opposite direction, securing only 27 wins from 62 matches since the start of last season.
Emery’s success is evident, with players like Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, and Ollie Watkins flourishing under his management. His new signings, such as Morgan Rogers, Pau Torres, and Amadou Onana, have only strengthened the team further.
Both Ten Hag and Emery have nearly identical win percentages—Ten Hag at 55.65% from 124 games with United and Emery at 55.43% from 92 matches with Villa. However, their teams are on very different paths. While Emery has built a team with a clear identity and direction, Ten Hag must act swiftly to turn things around at United.
