Ten Hag's biggest blunder: How did Man Utd boss make brutal error?

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 Mar 2024 10:14 CDT
• 4 min read

Manchester United fans could be forgiven for wondering if Erik ten Hag was Ajax manager before he made his move to Old Trafford 18 months ago.

After all, that would explain why he was willing to sanction a €95 million deal in 2022 to sign Antony from the Amsterdam club when Mohammed Kudus was waiting in the wings to move for far less.

Ghana international Kudus ultimately got his transfer, though to West Ham, but for a fee of €43m, he has proven infinitely better value for David Moyes’s side.

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Kudus’ quality was again evident in Thursday’s Europa League triumph over Freiburg. The winger capped the Hammers’ 5-0 success with a dazzling run through the centre of the visiting defence that showcased both his technical and physical qualities.

It was the sort of moment a €95m man might have been expected to produce on occasion.

And yet the most memorable thing Antony has managed in 18 months at Man Utd has been spinning round the ball. It was a moment wonderful for meme creators. For fans of the Red Devils, not so much.

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The €95m winger with no goals or assists

The paucity of Antony’s output this season is well established. In the Premier League, no one needs to be reminded, he has not scored a goal or an assist. His only goal and assist have come against League Two Newport County in the FA Cup.

Kudus, meanwhile, has six strikes and a further four decisive passes in the league alone. Overall, his return of 15 goals and five assists cannot be quibbled with. His midweek strike did end a goal drought running over two months, yet he now appears to have negotiated that dip in a way that Antony has been unable to at Old Trafford. The Brazilian has six goal contributions (four strikes, two assists) in 47 league appearances.

This stagnation is perhaps the most alarming thing about Antony’s time at Man Utd. Data analytics firm SciSports show that his level has absolutely flatlined since moving to Old Trafford.

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While the experts believe there is scope for improvement, there is little reason to believe that it is just around the corner given what he has produced to date.

Kudus, meanwhile, has seen a significant bounce since moving to West Ham. Sure, there was that recent dip, but it’s clear he’s coming out of it.

Quite how Ten Hag worked with both at Ajax and this is the outcome is puzzling.

Recruitment has been one of the major sticks to beat the Dutchman since he took the reins at Man Utd over 18 months ago, and the case of Antony and Kudus is the sharpest evidence yet that he simply gets too much wrong.