Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United nightmare deepened on Saturday as they slumped to a dismal 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest, plunging the club into their worst start since 1930.
Fuming with his players’ lacklustre display, Ten Hag launched a scathing attack, labelling their performance “disappointing,” “unnecessary,” and “not energised enough.”
The Red Devils, plagued by injuries and inconsistency, were a shadow of their potential, mustering a solitary shot in a dire first half. Ten Hag’s frustration was palpable as he watched Forest take the lead through Dominguez, before Rashford briefly offered hope with his third goal of the season. However, Gibbs-White’s late strike shattered United’s fragile hopes, condemning them to their fourth defeat in six games and leaving them nine points adrift of the top four.
“The loss was unnecessary. We lost it in the first half,” Ten Hag declared, his anger barely contained. “We should invest more, create moments, and we didn’t. These results are below our standards. The players are not happy, but we have to do better.”
United’s current state is alarming. They have lost nine of their opening 20 league games for the first time since 1989-90, and with 14 defeats in all competitions already, they are on track to eclipse their 1930-31 record for most losses by the New Year. Finishing 2023 with 21 defeats across all competitions is a damning statistic, highlighting their alarming decline.
Ten Hag pointed towards injuries as a mitigating factor, but his explanation rang hollow in light of the team’s repeated inconsistency and lack of fighting spirit.
“We had to change again, swap our team, and it explains why we are so inconsistent,” he conceded, acknowledging the disruptive impact of constant personnel shuffling. “We had nine different partnerships in the back. The fans don’t want to hear this, they want results, and that is what we have to deliver.”
The arrival of Dave Brailsford, INEOS’s head of sport, added another layer of scrutiny to United’s misery. Witnessing the team’s struggles from the stands alongside club legend Sir Alex Ferguson, Brailsford was likely left with a stark picture of the work needed under INEOS’s new leadership.
Despite the pressure and growing calls for his sacking, Ten Hag remains defiant, clinging to the promise of a brighter future. “We will work together to set high targets and structures,” he declared. “It will happen. No doubt about that.”
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