The Manchester United hierarchy may wonder why the previous bosses rejected Mauricio Pochettino in 2022 after hearing Erik ten Hag swoon over his side's clean sheets.
Ten Hag, 54, entered the international break with his beleaguered United side, currently occupying 14th place with two wins, two draws, three defeats, and only five Premier League goals scored. The former Ajax boss tried to deflect attention from his side's odious goal return onto the four clean sheets they have kept in the division so far.
Few were convinced by his argument, and the uncertainty around his position continued to build. After United endured their fifth match in a row without a victory in all competitions, the new infrastructure at Old Trafford may examine the reasoning behind the previous bigwigs' decision to choose Ten Hag over the former Chelsea boss.
The Argentine manager appeared to be the favorite to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had been linked with the club since his days as Tottenham manager. Yet, Pochettino was in charge of Paris Saint-Germain at the time and with memories of answering questions on United at Spurs perhaps still on his mind, Pochettino aimed to extinguish any queries of him joining the club by insisting his future was with PSG. This proved to be too unpalatable for the Red Devils.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Pochettino was the club's first choice to take over in 2022. They claim United was more than ready to try to thrash out a deal with PSG to bring Pochettino to the red side of Manchester.
With PSG reluctant to part with him, United would have likely needed Pochettino to cause a furore and potentially force his way out of the club to carve out a route to United. Yet, Pochettino did not agitate or cause a storm, leaving PSG with no reason to succumb to United's wishes.
United would turn their attention to Ten Hag and sign him on an initial three-year deal. Pochettino is now no longer an option as he was recently appointed as manager of the United States men's national team, with the 2026 World Cup across the pond barely two years away.
Two years after the Dutchman put pen to paper on his deal, United have fluctuated under Ten Hag's stewardship. While he boasts an FA Cup and League Cup winners' medal, he has only finished in the top four once.
With the club currently languishing in 14th, finishing in the Champions League places appears to be as fanciful as it is unlikely. His side held Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw at Villa Park in their last Premier League match before the break.
While the result in itself is not a bad one, given the predicaments of both clubs, United fans were left yawning throughout the contest. Yet, Ten Hag was in a rather upbeat mood after the game.
When asked about the speculation around his position, he said: "[It is] external noise. Internal, we are disappointed. We know we have to do better. Especially, we need to score more, in this moment, after this block of games [that is] where we are really short.
"All the other areas, we are doing really well, four clean sheets. That tells you something about our defending over the season. Defensive transitions we are doing really well. Our build-up play is good, we are calm, composed, creating chances apart from today. Today we should have created more. That area in the box, we have to be more ruthless, more clinical, more killing."
fonabdlnyz
1
Manchester united needs prayers inside and outside if not this diseases will continue to attach man united members and fans around the world to death
Wasciktz
0
You Ate nothing better then ETH
gm11
0
you're a one out of a thousand who have publicly said out a fair assessment about ETH. the fake fans are mostly cr7 fans who want him sacked without considering what's taking place on the field of play
Thats cause I've seen my team win 21 cups in my lifetime, I've been around since the good times, I've seen my team fall apart infront of my eyes due to the owners and Ed Woodward. They are to blame just as much as the bad players we've signed over the years. I've seen the players push good managers under the bus, I've seen how the owners have treated legends of the club when they leave the club such as de gea, Ronaldo ect. I have eyes that work which helps alot too. I'm patient I can wait for good things to come but constantly sacking the managers is what keep the team from progressing. We need to keep ten hag, nd let him keep signing people he wants, let the squad get some sort of depth, cause what we have currently isn't enough to have us compete for the title. Notice every other team in Europe doesn't get hit with as many injuries as united it's clear the players hide when things hit the fan. We need a squad of men not boys thsts the biggest problem.
bukai26
0
At ajax he had a style you mad? He bet real Madrid and got to the semi finals of champions league by playing such good football. Difference is that ajax team beats are current squad. Ten hag had players that scored their chances, could pass, could cross, could take set pieces, defend well and most importantly had a playmaker which united don't have. Ten hag is the right man I'm not gonna judge him just cause the players haven't been clinical this season. Fake fans will, but then again who listens to the fake ones noone. Not even the owners. Hense why his job was kept rightly so.
Why are you angry mate? I feel the same. ten Hag is the right man for the Man UTD job.
Mnyaku1
0
This application and Man U newz...
rokdenos
1
I'm sick and tired seeing this news abt 10hag,,, all I want to see is man u sacked E 10hag. He finished the club now it's his time to go..
msiwela07
0
At ajax he had a style you mad? He bet real Madrid and got to the semi finals of champions league by playing such good football. Difference is that ajax team beats are current squad. Ten hag had players that scored their chances, could pass, could cross, could take set pieces, defend well and most importantly had a playmaker which united don't have. Ten hag is the right man I'm not gonna judge him just cause the players haven't been clinical this season. Fake fans will, but then again who listens to the fake ones noone. Not even the owners. Hense why his job was kept rightly so.
you're a one out of a thousand who have publicly said out a fair assessment about ETH. the fake fans are mostly cr7 fans who want him sacked without considering what's taking place on the field of play
gm11
0
Not sure about style. But he did bring two trophies to the club in 2 seasons. United were 6 years trophyless at that time.
At ajax he had a style you mad? He bet real Madrid and got to the semi finals of champions league by playing such good football. Difference is that ajax team beats are current squad. Ten hag had players that scored their chances, could pass, could cross, could take set pieces, defend well and most importantly had a playmaker which united don't have. Ten hag is the right man I'm not gonna judge him just cause the players haven't been clinical this season. Fake fans will, but then again who listens to the fake ones noone. Not even the owners. Hense why his job was kept rightly so.
S100K
2
Pochetino wouldn't have won anything at United with this squad, Ten Hag is far better than Pochetino. USA job will be good for him, no pressure there.
ESPN
2
it was not a mistake but blessing in disguise
Heikal_Mahsir
1
time is up, Erik.
bukai26
0
At that time, ETH was producing an attractive attacking style of play at Ajax and everyone including myself thought he can bring that to Man U.
Not sure about style. But he did bring two trophies to the club in 2 seasons. United were 6 years trophyless at that time.
wenamnors
3
At that time, ETH was producing an attractive attacking style of play at Ajax and everyone including myself thought he can bring that to Man U.