On Sunday, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, tackled the demanding London Marathon, finishing in a commendable four hours and 30 minutes. This achievement highlighted his stamina and dedication. However, his day was far from over.
Shortly after completing the marathon, Ratcliffe shifted focus to Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Coventry. Despite the day’s earlier exertions, he saw Manchester United narrowly advance to the final. This marks their second consecutive final under Erik ten Hag’s management. While last season saw ten Hag win the Carabao Cup, recent performances have cast doubt on his future. The team’s progress in finals doesn’t fully capture the struggles they face in other areas.
Under ten Hag’s leadership, Manchester United’s performance has been inconsistent. Despite reaching the FA Cup final, their overall season has been disappointing, with a lackluster Champions League campaign and a current seventh-place standing in the Premier League, lagging 16 points behind the top four. For a club of Manchester United’s stature, such results fall short of expectations.
The team’s issues are diverse, particularly evident in their defense. Since February, Manchester United has conceded seven goals in injury time, pointing to significant defensive weaknesses. Statistics from Understat reveal the team has the fifth-worst expected goals against (xGA) in the Premier League at 63.61, putting them alongside relegation-threatened teams.
Conversely, Arsenal leads the league with the best defensive record, having an xGA of just 25.89. Offensively, Manchester United also struggles, ranking 12th in expected goals (xG) with a total of 50.36, even below struggling teams like Everton.
Criticism of ten Hag’s tactical choices continues, particularly his substitutions in the semi-final against Coventry. Replacing the lively Garnacho with the underperforming Antony and later swapping Mainoo for the experienced Eriksen drew scrutiny. These decisions, combined with Manchester United’s overall performance, have fueled debates about ten Hag’s future.
The widening gap between Manchester United and the Premier League’s elite teams poses serious questions about the club’s trajectory. The new ownership may soon face a critical decision about ten Hag’s role, as significant changes appear necessary to restore Manchester United to its former prominence.
