Ten Hag Faces Pressure to Deliver at Manchester United

After an uplifting end to last season, with Manchester United securing an FA Cup victory and spending heavily on new signings, hopes were high for Erik ten Hag’s third season in charge.

The atmosphere around Old Trafford brimmed with optimism as fans anticipated a stronger campaign ahead.

However, just seven games into the season, the familiar sounds of frustration and concern are starting to reemerge from the club’s base.

United’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Dutch side Twente ended with a smattering of boos from the home crowd, a telling sign that patience may be wearing thin.

Although far from a full-blown crisis, the reaction raised questions about whether the team is truly improving under Ten Hag.

Even more concerning was the post-match acknowledgment from both the manager and midfielder Christian Eriksen that the opposition “wanted it more” – a troubling statement for a club with United’s ambitions.

“It was far from good enough,” said Eriksen. “They looked like they wanted it more – that can’t be right. We didn’t lose, but it feels like a loss.”

Ten Hag echoed these sentiments, acknowledging that the performance lacked the intensity and hunger required at this level.

This admission strikes at the heart of United’s struggles this season: a lack of consistency and cohesion, particularly when it matters most.

Including their penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield, United have won just three of their first eight games of the campaign – a worse record than in either of Ten Hag’s previous two seasons at this stage.

They’ve drawn twice and lost three games, a worrying trend for a team hoping to challenge for major honors.

One area where there has been some improvement is in defense.

At times, United have shown greater solidity at the back, but this hasn’t been enough to translate into consistent results.

The question is whether these flashes of defensive discipline are enough to indicate real progress under Ten Hag, or if they merely paper over deeper issues.

The weight of expectation at Manchester United is immense, and Ten Hag faces mounting pressure to deliver.

With a long season still ahead, there is time for the team to turn things around.

However, if the current trajectory continues, the Dutchman may find himself confronting the same old challenges that have plagued previous managers at Old Trafford.

The key now is whether Ten Hag can rekindle the fire that fueled last season’s success.