Many supporters believe Erik ten Hag should be sacked as manager of Manchester United. AFP Photo
Paul Kennedy
Music to my ears. That’s exactly what it’s felt like over the past few days listening to various podcasts, talk shows, radio phone-ins and football fan web channels.
I’m talking about the reaction to Liverpool’s pure inhalation of Manchester United last Sunday.
In truth, Liverpool let them off lightly. A scoreline of four, five or even six goals to nil would in my opinion have been just. United were there for the taking.
And as good as Liverpool were, all the focus post-match has been more about how bad United played. I don’t think there’s a Manchester United supporter on the planet who would disagree.
A great deal of the bile spouted by United fans, and some pundits too, has been directed at manager Erik ten Hag.
In a match billed as a battle of the Dutch men, it was Liverpool’s Arne Slot who came out way on top.
Now, not for the first time and certainly not for the last, big questions are being asked over the future of ten Hag.
At the end of last season, many thought his time was up at Old Trafford.
A combination of a shock FA Cup win, plus a general lack of managerial options available, gave ten Hag a brief stay of execution. Now the knives are back out.
United fans are complaining that ten Hag is nothing more than a cup manager, and they’re not wrong.
But here’s the deal. That’s the best you’re going to be getting for a very long time. You should be thankful for small mercies.
There are plenty of teams, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United immediately spring to mind, who would give their right arms for a chance to lift a trophy.
United fans should count their blessings. This team is a million miles away from challenging for a Premier League title and as for the Champions League… not a snowball’s chance in hell.
And there’s no quick fix.
Even if someone as brilliant as Pep Guardiola took over, they would find themselves rowing up hill.
The tides of football shift in a major way. United were once a fabulous football team, now they are just Premier League also-rans.
Ten Hag boasted this week, in a desperate attempt to hide his shortcomings, that United were the second most successful team in England because they have won two cup competitions in the past two seasons.
Supporters should just enjoy these moments. It’s the best they’ll be getting for a very, very long time. VNS
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