Erik ten Hag is currently facing a storm of challenges at Old Trafford, a scenario that many fans can relate to.
On Sunday, Aston Villa, who are sitting fifth in the Premier League, put on a lackluster performance, managing only a 0-0 draw against a lower mid-table team after their emotionally draining victory over Bayern Munich earlier in the week. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows—especially in light of Brighton’s stunning comeback against Tottenham and Chelsea’s tumultuous outing against Nottingham Forest. But this is Manchester United we’re talking about.
Even more than a decade after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, the turmoil at United shows no signs of easing. How is it possible that the most successful club in English league history, once celebrated for its jubilant supporters, continuously falls short? This seems to reflect a staggering degree of mismanagement, with such a prestigious club struggling against the fundamental principles of football, where financial power generally equates to success.
While some may derive satisfaction from the struggles of a once-mighty United, this saga has a broader resonance—it’s akin to the narratives found in “Henry VI” or “Succession,” a never-ending story of the elite squabbling and floundering in pursuit of their goals. A couple of uninspired draws against teams like Twente or Villa shouldn’t command attention, yet they undeniably do.
Initially, we often saw Ferguson in the stands, a reminder of past glories. But the narrative has shifted; the spotlight now falls on the earnest, bespectacled executives, whom Irish journalist Dion Fanning has dubbed “the politburo of bullshit.” These individuals were brought in following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a stake in the club in February, assigned with the daunting task of steering the football operations.
However, their revolution appears mainly focused on layoffs, imposing a ban on remote work despite inadequate office conditions, and cutting employee benefits—all while urging for public investment to create a new stadium. The new ownership bears an uncanny resemblance to the previous regime, albeit with a sharper edge.
It seems to be easier to repurpose hospitality suites into makeshift offices or trim down packed lunches for staff than to confront the difficult decision of replacing a manager like Ten Hag, who seems increasingly unlikely to turn the situation around. A recent cover of the fanzine United We Stand poignantly captured the sentiment, portraying Ten Hag with his head bowed in the rain.
Ferguson’s legacy poses a dilemma: he enjoyed time to build, creating a standard that future managers are expected to meet. No one wants to rehash what might have occurred had Mark Robins not netted that crucial FA Cup winner in 1990, potentially leading to Ferguson’s dismissal before he managed to secure his first trophy after four tumultuous seasons.
Today, we must grapple with how Ten Hag excelled at Ajax, bringing the team to the brink of a Champions League final and beating giants like Juventus and Real Madrid, and how that success starkly contrasts with a current United squad that often appears shaky and uninspired. Not a single player from that Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-final in 2019 has truly emerged as a superstar—not even Frenkie de Jong—and this trend extends far beyond those who have joined United.
Could it be that Ajax’s enduring traditions and methodologies cultivate a harmony that United seems to lack? Perhaps that special blend of players formed an internal equilibrium that thrived with little oversight. In Ten Hag’s last season at Ajax, despite clinching the league title for a third time in four years, defensive frailties became evident, with just three clean sheets in their final 12 matches. This emerging pattern, though often overlooked, could serve as a warning sign.
Just as Ajax, despite its pretensions, manages to maintain unity, it often appears that United has spiraled into disarray. Ten Hag is not alone in battling the turmoil enveloping the club; despite securing 20 league titles, those accolades have come under only three managers. The history of the club reveals cycles of upheaval, disappointment, and strife, and the drama continues to unfold.
This snapshot offers insight into the current state of football at the highest levels, thanks to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson—a weekly dialogue from the Guardian US that delves into European football and beyond. If you have questions for Jonathan, don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected], and he might address your query in the next issue.
