Former Manchester United striker tells hierarchy not to blame Erik ten Hag
Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has told the clubβs hierarchy not to blame Erik ten Hagβs for poor results amid speculation over the managerβs future.
Cole claims Ten Hagβs trophy successes at Old Trafford arenβt βluckyβ and believes he shouldnβt be solely blamed for the teamβs shortcomings.
The problem I have with that is this is Ten Hagβs team. Heβs had over two years to assemble it, so of course he takes some responsibility.
βWhatever the people in charge decide to do, it will be done with the best interests of the club in mind,β Cole told Betfred Insights. βThatβs that.
βHowever you look at it, for an individual to win two cup competitions in their first two seasons at Manchester United, thatβs not lucky. You canβt be lucky two seasons on the bounce.β
In defence of Ten Hag, Cole referenced how long it took Sir Alex Ferguson to win trophies at United: βThe club will do whatever they decide to do, but if you look at the bigger picture, you canβt just blame the manager. The manager picks the players, but the players are the ones that have to go out there and win football matches. Thatβs the way it is.
βSir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager in the clubβs history, didnβt win a trophy in his first three years at Manchester United. Does constantly changing managers help? No it doesnβt. Winning two cups in two seasons isnβt easy to do, regardless of what others say. If it was easy to do, then everyone would. If you take away Pep Guardiola, if you look at all the βeliteβ managers in England at the moment, what have they won? They havenβt won a couple of trophies in their first two seasons, have they?β
Erik ten Hag must take responsibility
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Not only is Ten Hag working with a table he assembled, the Dutchman was backed by the clubβs new hierarchy in the summer after winning the FA Cup.
He canβt say there hasnβt been support.
Improvements were expected when Ten Hag signed a one-year extension at United. This season was set up for him to prove himself, not for United to struggle with inconsistent form.
Manchester United executives are meeting in London this morning to discuss Ten Hagβs future. The Athleticβs report suggests Sir Jim Ratcliffeβs decision could prove decisive.
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