Set for the sack? Chelsea clash is Ten Hag's biggest as Man Utd manager

Sam McGuire

• 5 Dec 2023 07:00 CST
• 4 min read

It has taken a while but a Premier League manager has finally been sacked. Usually, top-flight teams are much more reactive than they have been this season. To reach December without a sacking is unheard of. However, Sheffield United’s decision to part ways with Paul Heckingbottom could open the floodgates.

Erik Ten Hag might now be feeling the pressure a little more than he was a few days ago.

On paper, the Manchester United boss should be quite content at Old Trafford. During his debut season with the club, he delivered a piece of silverware and claimed a top-four spot.

However, things aren’t necessarily going to plan for the one-time Ajax coach. He’s 18 months into his tenure as United boss and the team still lack a real identity. They adopt an underdog tactic in big games despite spending heavily on players who were supposed to give the Dutchman the platform to put his stamp on things. United are regularly reliant on individuals to get them out of trouble and it just isn’t sustainable.

That is why, 14 games into the 2023/24 Premier League season, the Red Devils have won eight and lost six. They have a negative goal difference, both in general and at Old Trafford. They also look set to crash out of the Champions League.

Man United host Bayern Munich in the final group stage match knowing their fate is out of their hands. Ten Hag’s men have to beat the German giants and hope Galatasaray and Kobenhaven draw if they are to progress into the knockout round. As things stand, they are bottom of the group with one win from their five matches having conceded 14 goals.

The Red Devils can’t really focus on that game against Bayern just yet. They face Chelsea on Wednesday evening and then Bournemouth on Saturday. The game against the Blues might determine Ten Hag’s future.

Jose Mourinho left Old Trafford in December while Ole Gunnar Solskjær was dismissed towards the end of November. So it is around this time of year that United pull the trigger on underperforming managers.

Ten Hag could well fall into this category.

A loss to Chelsea would heap pressure on the Dutchman. The Blues have been erratic this season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. They’ve managed to hold Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City to draws while also beating Spurs 4-1. But then they have also lost to Brentford, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. They usually follow up a positive result with a bad one. With this in mind, following on from their 3-2 win over Brighton on Sunday, a poor performance is on the cards for their trip to Old Trafford.

If United allow the visitors to buck that trend, it is a sign of how poor things are for Ten Hag and the struggling giants of English football.

This is a transitional Chelsea side still trying to find their feet as well as an identity under Pochettino. United, on home turf and much farther along into their project under their manager, should be able to come up with a plan to defeat such an inconsistent team. If they can’t, serious questions need to be asked of Ten Hag. Serious questions that he won’t be able to answer. If he could, he wouldn’t be in the position he now finds himself in.

A loss to Chelsea isn’t going to make or break the season but with the campaign still salvageable, a loss will give those in charge a decision to make. Especially with big games coming up for United.

After the visit of Bayern, Man Utd face Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa over a nine-day period. If results go against them, their top four push could be over before New Year. That is how delicate the situation is right now. And that is why the game against the Blues is arguably Ten Hag’s biggest as manager.