5 games that counted against Erik ten Hag after Manchester United sacking
United are looking for a new manager.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager.
United’s new ownership have made the move after a poor start to the season, which continued at West Ham on Sunday when they slipped to their fourth Premier League defeat of the campaign.
They sit in 14th place and have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five games that counted against the former Ajax boss in his final 12 months in charge.
Manchester United 0 Bournemouth 3 – Premier League, December 9, 2023
A 2-1 win over Chelsea in early December was arguably United’s best performance of the season to that point and should have been something to build on.
Instead, just three days later they were embarrassed by Andoni Iraola’s Cherries as Bournemouth enjoyed a first victory at Old Trafford – and in some style.
Dominic Solanke opened the scoring five minutes in and then hit a post before further goals from Philip Billing and Marcos Senesi led to boos from many of the United fans that stuck around until the end.
Manchester United 1 Fulham 2 – Premier League, February 24, 2024
Confirmation of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment into United, and the overhaul of football operations it would bring, had brought a sense of optimism to Old Trafford.
But it took only a few days for United to puncture it with yet another home defeat.
Harry Maguire thought he had earned a point with an 89th-minute equaliser only for United to switch off and allow Alex Iwobi to strike a dramatic stoppage-time winner.
Coventry 3 Manchester United 3 (United won 4-2 on penalties) – FA Cup, April 21, 2024
Even in victory there were alarm bells ringing at Wembley as United reached a second successive FA Cup final.
United were firm favourites against Championship opposition and duly took a 3-0 lead, apparently cruising to victory.
But Coventry scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to force extra-time and even thought they had won it through Victor Torp in the last minute of that period before VAR intervened with an offside decision.
United came through the penalty shoot-out but it was a victory without much honour.
Crystal Palace 4 Man Utd 0 – Premier League, May 6, 2024
Perhaps United’s worst day of the season came at Selhurst Park as Palace completed their maiden Premier League double over the Red Devils.
Michael Olise scored twice as Palace overwhelmed a patched-up United defence manned by Jonny Evans and Casemiro.
Defeat left United with only two wins from 10 league games, a run which would ultimately cost them any chance of finishing in the European places.
Man Utd 0 Tottenham 3 – Premier League, September 29, 2024
United had been swept aside by bitter rivals Liverpool and dropped points in the Europa League against lowly-ranked Dutch side FC Twente in their two previous games at Old Trafford.
The mood worsened within three minutes of the Premier League clash with Tottenham as centre-back Micky van de Ven dribbled 70 yards through the heart of the United team before crossing for Brennan Johnson to open the scoring.
United captain Bruno Fernandes then saw red before the interval, after which further goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Solanke were the least Spurs deserved in a dominant display as the pressure on Ten Hag intensified.