Relegation 'certainly possible' for Man Utd, warns Ten Hag

The prospect of Manchester United being relegated from the Premier League this season is "certainly possible", in the eyes of their former boss Erik ten Hag.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea dialled up the pressure on the Red Devils' head coach Michael Carrick, who has overseen a nine-game winless run in all competitions (D3 L6).

It is the club's worst slump since they went 10 matches without a victory in 1984, and they are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, with seven points from nine games.

With in-form Aston Villa being their final opponents prior to the November international break, United are staring at the possibility of spending the hiatus below the dreaded dotted line.

United were last relegated from the top flight in 1974, bouncing back at the first time of asking the following season, and they have not been in the relegation zone at least nine games into a campaign since November 1986, at the start of Alex Ferguson's reign.

But, particularly after Tottenham finished 17th in back-to-back seasons, including a final-day escape last term, Ten Hag is among those who see relegation as a possibility.

"In the Premier League it's certainly possible, because all the teams are simply strong," the former EFL Cup and FA Cup-winning boss told ESPN in the Netherlands.

"They're all strong squads, all with good managers. 

"And if you end up on the wrong side once and you really get into that vicious circle, yes, then it can become very, very difficult."

United are in their joint-lowest position at least nine games into a season since 1989-90, when they also sat 17th.

And Ten Hag feels United's recent struggles make his period in charge – which included two domestic cup triumphs – look more successful than it initially appeared.  

"I think we performed pretty well with United. I think we performed more than pretty well... We couldn't have done better," he added. 

"Before we arrived, it had been six years without winning a trophy. Look where they are now. We were at Wembley six times, we played two FA Cup finals.

"The Premier League is so strong and when you hit a difficult spell, yes, then you really have a problem."

Before welcoming Villa to Old Trafford on Sunday, United face Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Carrick's future believed to be in the balance.