Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane both have doubts that Erik ten Hag will be in charge next season, unless he can have an excellent end to the season.
The Red Devils were beaten 3-1 at Manchester City on Sunday, in no way a surprising result, but it represented the 11th defeat of the Premier League campaign for Ten Hag’s team.
After an early exit from the Champions League, Ten Hag’s chances of rescuing this season appear to be resting on an FA Cup win, while a return to Champions League qualification would be very helpful but looks unlikely at this stage.
Neville feels that it has been a regression on last season for his former club and that will leave the new co-owners in doubt over whether Ten Hag is the man for the job.
‘Last season I think was really good in the sense of winning a trophy, getting into the Champions League, getting to an FA Cup final, there were a lot of good things about last season in terms of setting a foundation for Erik ten Hag,’ Neville told Sky Sports.
‘I would have expected this season, not to win the league no one expected Manchester United to win the league, but they didn’t expect them to be in sixth, so far off.
‘So I think that’s the problem, they’ve lost 11 games in the league, their performances are inconsistent so is it because that’s what happens in the second season? He just needs a third to get it right?
‘Or actually is this just what they are and this is what he is? That’s the challenge Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will have, where are we at in this journey? Are we going in the right direction?’
Keane echoed those sentiments, saying there are ‘huge questions marks’ over Ten Hag at the minute.
‘The summer is huge for him,’ said the Irishman. ‘Just for example if they miss out on the Champions League and don’t win a trophy, or get to the FA Cup final or whatever. Then you look back and think, where are we going?
‘That’s why the next few months, if he can win the FA Cup, get fifth, get into the Champions League then it looks different. But the next few months are huge for him.’
Asked if the Red Devils are going in the right direction Keane said: ‘I’m not sure at the moment. Huge question marks. Every week you see United you just don’t know what you’re going to get.
’11 defeats is nowhere near good enough. I always say, give the manager the benefit of the doubt. Come the summer you can reflect and see where United are at, but that’s why the next few months are huge for him.’
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