Just two games into Erik ten Hag’s reign as manager, and there’s already a familiar sense of foreboding about Manchester United’s season.
A truly disastrous 12 months at the club reached a whole new level on Saturday as United were humiliated at Brentford. It took just 35 minutes for the Reds to find themselves 4-0 down in London, and leave fans fearing the worst just one week into the new campaign.
Though hopes weren’t necessarily renewed that the dawn of a new era was beginning under Ten Hag, expectations were much higher than what United have shown in their two games thus far. The Reds had shown some promising glimpses during pre-season, all of which have been missing now the real business has begun.
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Ten Hag was clear prior to the season beginning that the players still remaining from last season’s debacle would be given a clean slate. Based on their first couple of showings, that faith looks as though it may have been misguided.
And the United boss can’t say he wasn’t warned. Roy Keane has been one of the most vocal critics of the current crop of players, and his warning to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in 2019 will no doubt apply to Ten Hag as well.
“I’m always intrigued when I hear after games, people talking about ‘we’ll be up for the next game’. You’re supposed to be up for every game,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re playing for Man United or Altrincham, you’ve got to be up for every game of football. I don’t fall for this carry-on that there’s going to be a brilliant reaction from these players.
“These are the same players that threw Mourinho under the bus, and they will do exactly the same to Ole. Leopards don’t change their spots.
“There’s too many bluffers at this club to get United back to the very top. Even at the point where we’re talking about Man United trying to finish fourth tells you how the standards have dropped at United over the last few years, both on and off the pitch.”
Keane’s prediction ultimately came true, with Solskjaer sacked after a dire run of form last season. Ralf Rangnick was subsequently unable to get a tune out of the same squad before he turned his attention elsewhere.
The early signs don’t point towards Ten Hag faring much better. If they’re not careful, United’s players could end up costing yet another manager his job.
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