‘Give him one more season’ – Wes Brown advises Manchester United to stand by Erik ten Hag

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown insists the club should stick with Erik ten Hag amid increasing uncertainty about his future.

Manchester United are preparing for this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City. The tournament allows us to potentially lift a piece of silverware in what has been a difficult campaign for Erik ten Hag.

The Reds crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages and it doesn’t look like we will be finishing the campaign any of the four Champions League spots. We were also unable to replicate winning the Carabao Cup, which Ten Hag did in his first season to end a six-year trophy drought.

Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Brown believes Ten Hag is worthy of a third season on the job.

“I don’t think that United are the sort of club that should be changing the manager, they should have a respectful three or four years to get what they want done,” Brown told In The Zone.

“They have to give him one more season, it’s simple. I think the manager has done enough in the first two seasons to secure another season. I like Erik ten Hag. United have had big-name managers in and it’s all been the same, so something is not right somewhere. You have to give the manager time because if you want to kick on and injuries have stopped him doing what he’s wanted to do this year. [Lisandro] Martinez is a big miss, he changed things a little bit for United, he brings power to the defensive line – just like [Raphael] Varane. This season is a tough watch, it’s not brilliant now if you’re a United fan. Last season was positive with a good league finish and two finals and a cup, this is where they want to be.”

People quick to forget United overachieved in Ten Hag’s first season

Although this season hasn’t been anywhere near as good as Ten Hag’s first, the Dutchman could lead us to three finals in two years. That should tell you we are a cup team – as things stand – and I would call that progression since nobody expected a Premier League title in his first two seasons.

It takes time and I will be disappointed if Ineos refuse to give that to Ten Hag.

Let’s not pretend that Graham Potter or Roberto De Zerbi are better managers than the man we’ve already got in the hotseat.

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