When West Ham visited Upton Park on May 10, 2016, Manchester United was aware to anticipate a partisan atmosphere.
The atmosphere was electrifying as it was West Ham's penultimate game at the Boleyn Ground before their transfer to the London Stadium. That was translated onto the field, where a thrilling five-goal game took place, but the hosts came out on top in a happily ever after.
Anthony Martial gave United a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute, but eight minutes later they were down 3-2. When West Ham completed the ideal closure of their stadium after 112 years, Louis van Gaal sagged in his chair in disbelief.
The 2015–16 Premier League season saw United suffer its eighth away defeat, the most in a single season in the club's history. It was again matched this season after being equaled in 2021/22.
Thus, under Erik ten Hag's leadership, United has equaled its joint-highest number of road losses in a single competition season. His loss, which also occurred against West Ham, put him on par with Van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick.
History has a funny way of repeating itself, and that season, before winning the FA Cup, United finished fifth. On June 3, United will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. However, coming up outside the top four this year would be disastrous.
Although United appeared to be unstoppable for Champions League football at the beginning of February, their lead over Liverpool in fifth place, who are chasing them, is now just one point, and their road performance has certainly contributed to that.
Even though United still has a game to play and their remaining schedule of Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Fulham is not particularly difficult, the race for Champions League football appears to be getting closer than it should be.
The main knock against Ten Hag's team this season has been their how they perform away from Old Trafford, and it was brought to light once more in a terrible four-day span last week when United suffered consecutive road losses to Brighton and West Ham.
When adjusted further, United's record against the top nine teams in the Premier League is even worse since they have only triumphed over Fulham and Wolves outside the bottom five. United has only earned one point from these away games.
Even though West Ham hasn't been very remarkable this year, they managed to pick up three points on Sunday. The players appeared to be at a loss for words and were unable to react, even though David de Gea was to blame for his disastrous howler.
Even though West Ham hasn't been very remarkable this year, they managed to pick up three points on Sunday. The players appeared to be at a loss for words and were unable to react, even though David de Gea was to blame for his disastrous howler.
Although Van Gaal was the first United manager to see his team suffer eight losses in the Premier League away from home in a single season, eight road losses have now occurred at Old Trafford in back-to-back seasons.
The heart of the locker room has remained the same during those four managers—Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, Rangnick, and Ten Hag—suggesting that the players must assume accountability.
There is a problem that needs to be fixed with the away performance. There have been many gains from this promising season, but the development will be constrained if road performance doesn't improve.
Because he was replaced by Jose Mourinho at the conclusion of that season, Van Gaal did not have time to find a solution to his team's poor away performance in 2015–16. Ten Hag will have the chance, and this season has proven that he is the right person to find the solution.
There must still be personnel changes in order to finish a reconstruction, which cannot be done in just two transfer windows.
Richard Keys questions Manchester United's progress under Erik Ten Hag
Richard Keys, a presenter for BeIN Sports, believes that Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Louis van Gaal were better coaches for Manchester United than Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag, who guided the squad to EFL Cup victory, has had a fairly successful first season at Old Trafford. If the Red Devils defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final next month, things might get better for them. Due to their fourth-place finish in the Premier League, the English giants are also in a good position to earn a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
However, Keys is not persuaded by the Dutch tactician, who the pundit has frequently criticized. The BeIN Sports host stated that contrary to popular belief, he does not believe that Manchester United is improving under Ten Hag.
"I just don't share the general hysteria about Manchester United right now," Keys said on BeIN Sports (via The Mirror).
"I don't think they're any better than they've been since Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) left. I think they've been better at different times."
"I think they were better under Mourinho; I think they were better under Van Gaal; I think they were arguably better under Solskjaer," Keys added.
"So, I just don't share the hysteria that Ten Hag has turned up and turned them into what they once were."
During his two years as manager of Manchester United, Mourinho was successful in winning three trophies, including the UEFA Europa League. While all was going on, Solskjaer guided the Red Devils to a second-place finish in 2020–21. Under Van Gaal's leadership, the Old Trafford team won the FA Cup in 2015–16.
After Alex Ferguson left, the club's best Premier League point total came in the 2017–18 season under Mourinho when they amassed 81 points. Notably, they might finish the year with 78 points under Ten Hag this time.
Richard Keys was joined in the BeIN Sports studio by Andy Gray, who gave his opinion on Erik ten Hag, stating that the Dutchman had not persuaded him. However, the former Aston Villa striker said that everything is now in place for Manchester United to get back to their best.
"The coach may not be good enough at the end of the day, he (Ten Hag) may not be," Gray said. "I'm not convinced with him, I'm seriously not and I mean that. I know they won the League Cup but I'm not convinced with Ten Hag yet."
Despite having two games in hand, the Red Devils only hold a one-point lead over fifth-placed Liverpool.
Post a Comment