Former Manchester United striker tells hierarchy not to blame Erik ten Hag

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has told the club’s hierarchy not to blame Erik ten Hag’s for poor results amid speculation over the manager’s future.

Cole claims Ten Hag’s trophy successes at Old Trafford aren’t ‘lucky’ and believes he shouldn’t be solely blamed for the team’s shortcomings.

The problem I have with that is this is Ten Hag’s team. He’s had over two years to assemble it, so of course he takes some responsibility.

“Whatever the people in charge decide to do, it will be done with the best interests of the club in mind,” Cole told Betfred Insights. “That’s that.

“However you look at it, for an individual to win two cup competitions in their first two seasons at Manchester United, that’s not lucky. You can’t be lucky two seasons on the bounce.”

In defence of Ten Hag, Cole referenced how long it took Sir Alex Ferguson to win trophies at United: “The club will do whatever they decide to do, but if you look at the bigger picture, you can’t 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. That’s the way it is.

“Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager in the club’s history, didn’t win a trophy in his first three years at Manchester United. Does constantly changing managers help? No it doesn’t. Winning two cups in two seasons isn’t 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 ‘elite’ managers in England at the moment, what have they won? They haven’t won a couple of trophies in their first two seasons, have they?”

Erik ten Hag must take responsibility

Not only is Ten Hag working with a table he assembled, the Dutchman was backed by the club’s new hierarchy in the summer after winning the FA Cup.

He can’t say there hasn’t 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 Hag’s future. The Athletic’s report suggests Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision could prove decisive.