Ta Ra Ten Hag

The curtain has finally come down on the Dutchman's chaotic reign at Old Trafford, one that's several highs but many, many lows can be near-documented through games I've attended.

The inevitable has happened, even if it still came as a bit of a shock on Monday morning.

Much to the annoyance of every non-Manchester United fan, Erik ten Hag has, at last, been relieved of his duties as the club’s manager, with club legend, and his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in on an interim basis.

There will be a million and one obituaries written on the Dutchman over the coming days, as well as what INEOS and co. should and should not have done over the summer, so I’ll do something a bit different.

Of the 128 games ten Hag managed with United, I had the pleasure (?) of being at 11 of them, near-evenly shared across his three campaigns.

They provide a fairly accurate timeline and summary of his time in charge, a chaotic two-and-a-half years that had several highs but far, far too many extreme lows, which ultimately made his sacking an absolute necessity.

United 2-2 Leeds – 8^th February 2023

A game scheduled for September but postponed due to the death of the Queen, it came at a time when ten Hag was enjoying near-universal support at Old Trafford.

After a mixed start, things had really picked up after the mid-season World Cup, with 11 wins from 13 games, including a seismic 2-1 victory over Manchester City.

United had to fight back from two down to salvage a draw with managerless Leeds, goals coming from the then-red-hot Marcus Rashford and a returning Jadon Sancho. It seemed, at this point, as if ten Hag had handled both players perfectly. It wouldn’t last.

United 2-1 Barcelona – 23^rd February 2023

Regardless of it being the Europa League, and a knockout round play-off at that, United vs Barcelona was (and always is) a big clash, only amplified by both sides’ form – Xavi’s side were on course to win La Liga, while ten Hag had kept winning, and Rashford had kept scoring, including in a 2-2 first leg draw at the Nou Camp.

Again, United showed character to come from behind, with the goals coming from the unlikely pair of Fred and Antony, and fellow Brazilian Casemiro continuing his tour de force.

It was United’s first win in Europe against a proper big club in the post-Fergie era, and the first since Chelsea in the 2010/11 season. It felt like an important moment, and the atmosphere said as much.

A great night became a great week (arguably the best in a decade) when United beat Newcastle three days later to win the Carabao Cup. It was a first trophy in six years, and a hopeful springboard for greater success, that ultimately went the other way.

Tottenham 2-2 United, 27^th April 2023

By this point, United had crashed back to earth, with that 7-0 loss at Anfield now looking like a seminal moment in ten Hag’s tenure, and a wretched run in Europe kicking off with a dire quarter-final exit to Sevilla.

Another run was also extended in North London, as United again failed to beat a top half side away from home under the Dutchman. They also squandered a two-goal lead.

Both were worrying then, and only became greater sticks to beat him with as the months, and losses, went by.

United 1-0 Villa, 30^th April 2023

United’s third-placed 2022/23 finish was built largely on their home form, with their sole loss coming on the opening day against Brighton.

A narrow victory against Unai Emery’s side followed on from wins against City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, and later, Chelsea, as Old Trafford became something of a fortress in ten Hag’s first season in charge.

It would quickly fall apart, like everything else, but given the squad he inherited, top four and a trophy (as well as an FA Cup final appearance) was a very decent first campaign. He is the only post-Fergie manager to do both in a single season.

Bayern 4-3 United, 20^th September 2023

While that generational rout at Anfield is one moment to look back on, almost everything from August 2023 can be used as reasons behind ten Hag’s dismissal, albeit multiple off-field issues did not help, nor did the ongoing takeover uncertainty.

United’s European form under the Dutchman is one of said reasons. The chaotic loss in Munich set the tone, as United conceded in quick succession, and conceded near-directly after scoring twice.

Another 4-3 loss away to Copenhagen followed, one that saw United throw away a two-goal lead. This happened again at Galatasaray in a 3-3 draw, and the Turkish side had already been handed a win at Old Trafford. It’s continued this season too.

It meant United finished bottom of a very manageable Champions League group last season, while they are winless in this season’s Europa League. All in all, there was a single win from the last 11 games in Europe, a run stretching back to the spring of 2023.

United 2-1 Brentford, 7^th October, 2023

The wheels had come off at this point, with injuries racking up, Rashford and Casemiro out of form, Sancho exiled, and four losses from the opening seven games. Ten Hag’s plan to turn United into the “best transition team in the world” had also spectacularly backfired, instead making them the easiest team to play against in the league.

He was bailed out in stunning fashion here by Scott McTominay, whose two goals in added time ensured a win, and an incredible moment ahead of a winter of serious discontent.

The Scotsman became a go-to guy for ten Hag, and while no one could ever doubt his effort, and his finishing, it was not the showings of a coach with a long-term vision.

Players, and moments, bailing out the manager became another theme, as United’s poor results still outperformed their shambolic set up.

United 0-3 Bournemouth, 9^th December 2023

The third of six home losses in the season, as Old Trafford again became a place for smaller clubs to seal famous victories, as it so often has in the post-Fergie wilderness years.

I can’t remember much of the game (probably blocked it out), but it was a typical performance by this point. No plan either with or without the ball, very few shots on target, and incredibly easy to cut through.

It was the second 3-0 home defeat of the season, the first to City, and one of many hammerings suffered under the Dutchman.

He likely only stayed in his job after this due to the ongoing takeover.

United 4-3 Liverpool, 17^th March 2024

The game which saved ten Hag for a while (again), and ended Liverpool’s season, as well as souring Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour.

In truth, it should never have happened. United threw away another lead, and conceded in quick succession before half-time, and looked a beaten team for much of the second half. Liverpool missed chances aplenty, and took their foot off the gas, allowing ten Hag’s worst buy Antony to make himself an unlikely hero, and force extra time.

The 30 minutes was chaotic, and maybe the most entertaining brand of football ten Hag put on, with Bruno Fernandes playing centre-back at times. Amad Diallo’s goal was a moment in time and is the best I’ve experienced at a sporting event, so thanks for that Erik.

It nearly meant nothing weeks later as United almost (and still did) embarrassed themselves against Coventry, but meant everything at the end of May, when City were stunned in the final.

The goals against City coming from Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, two players promoted by ten Hag, won’t be forgotten either.

United 1-1 City, 10^th August 2024

The Community Shield is a glorified friendly, but it was another game in which United conceded late on and lost when victory was in sight.

It also proved to be Sancho’s last game for the club, his miss in the shootout a fitting farewell, and ten Hag’s sixth and final Wembley outing with the club. An impressive tally in fairness.

United 1-0 Fulham, 16^th August 2024

The first game of the league season, and one that is always filled with hope, belief, and that much-needed delusion.

Joshua Zirkzee got a late winner, which papered over some of the cracks on show as issues from last season reared their head. A win was a win, though.

It would be a rather predictable false dawn for United, as well as Zirkzee, who has failed to score since.

How much of that is down to ten Hag and his wayward system and style is unclear, but it was another example of the manager failing to get the most from his signings.

United 0-3 Liverpool, 1^st September 2024

The end, or, at least, what felt like the end. Any early-season optimism was blown away as Liverpool ruthlessly exposed United’s shortcomings without even getting out of second gear.

It was only made worse, and more damning, for ten Hag that he was so easily outcoached by Arne Slot, a former Eredivisie rival, who was only three games into his Anfield career. Slot also being bald didn’t help either, let’s be honest.

The fans streaming out early was symbolic, but ten Hag would stumble on, and lose again 3-0 at home to Spurs, before finally, and mercifully, being put out of his misery.

Thankfully, life got in the way, and I didn’t have to suffer through any of those last games in person.

A grim clash with Everton at the start of December is now suddenly looking like a great day out with my favourite ever player in charge, and the Christmas chants in full flow.

Who’ll take over next? Who knows, and frankly, who cares right now. Some rest and recuperation, and Ruud, is required.