Manchester United are stuck in ‘purgatory’ — and there’s only one way out
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Recently, a well-known football personality took a look at the Manchester United locker room and saw a familiar situation that reminded them of rival teams. The atmosphere suggested a team that “lacks direction” and feels like it’s “stuck in a rut.” This sentiment isn’t by design; rather, it’s a feeling that can take hold of a team when there’s a lack of clear purpose.
"It's reminiscent of purgatory," is what was said. This description is particularly fitting considering that the 3-3 tie against Porto was yet another instance of ups and downs, as everyone continues to speculate about what the club plans to do regarding Erik ten Hag.
Compounding the issues is the fact that some players are all too acquainted with this scenario. Marcus Rashford has faced this with four different coaches. He’s lived through the same frustrating pattern, witnessing how the club clings on despite clear signs indicating the inevitable outcome. The generally commendable backing from United fans often extends the tenure of managers, relieving the pressure on club leaders to make a change. However, this tolerance continues only until things become irreparable, leading to a point where both the job and the entire season are beyond saving.
It's an unfortunate truth that when a manager finds themselves in this situation, it's unusual for them to turn things around. This is made even more frustrating by the chatter around the club suggesting that he is "definitely secure for the next two matches." We've already played one of those games, against Porto, and it didn't provide much hope.
Once more, we find ourselves at Villa Park, marking a new crossroads.
Ironically, it's a venue where United have an excellent Premier League track record, having lost just once there in 29 years. That solitary defeat came under Ten Hag's management, a 3-1 loss in November 2022, marking the first defeat at Villa since the notorious "you don’t win anything with kids" loss on the first day of the 1995-96 season. Despite this impressive history at one of the iconic stadiums in English football, Villa Park could potentially become another one of those places like Vicarage Road, Anfield, or Goodison Park in the club's recent past, ending a manager's spell abruptly.
Ineos needs to engage in much larger conversations regarding the reasons behind these ongoing issues and why the same patterns continue to emerge with various teams, players, coaches, and across different seasons. The “toxic” element, as many in the football community describe it, is exactly what the new football management at United needs to recognize and eliminate.
This is also why Ineos' choice made such a splash during the summer.
While there are valid conversations to be had about Manchester United as a club in 2024, that doesn't excuse Ten Hag's shortcomings. There are numerous issues that stem from the manager himself.
After more than two years, United has become a straightforward team to face. There's a lack of consistent strategy or formation. The brief moments of clarity we saw in the spring of 2023 have faded away, leaving behind ongoing confusion. It’s noteworthy that United had a dismal performance in October 2023 with a 4-3 loss in Copenhagen, and a year later, they delivered another performance that was strikingly similar in Porto.
This remains true even with shifts in staff and circumstances, just as it does for the club overall. Ten Hag can no longer attribute the issues to injuries or a lack of preferred players. Recently, Matthijs de Ligt and the highly regarded Lisandro Martinez have been just as vulnerable as Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were before. While certain players labeled as "problems" have left, the real challenges on the field continue.
The team they face this Sunday serves as a strong counterargument to any justifications Ten Hag or the United management might offer. Unai Emery may have been at Aston Villa for less time, but he has not only improved the team’s performance in relation to their resources, but he has also taken the club to a level that United aspires to reach — the Champions League. While Villa is managing to defeat Bayern Munich with smart strategies, United continues to struggle against lower-ranked teams with puzzling displays.
It wouldn’t be accurate to claim that Emery stepped into a more favorable scenario. Aston Villa had significantly fewer funds at their disposal. In fact, they faced even greater challenges, considering the club's financial stability was uncertain just a few seasons back. Villa had become one of the most troubled clubs in English football, but that is no longer the case.
United continues to be the epitome of chaos, with this absurdity lingering far longer than anyone anticipated. It's almost remarkable how their matches have turned into must-see events, though for entirely the wrong reasons. People either love or despise them, but no one can overlook the spectacle they provide. As a result, Emery now stands among the many managers who are outshining Ten Hag, even while having less time and fewer resources at their disposal.
One thing to consider when comparing United to Villa or any other team is that United faces a level of attention and criticism that's greater than all clubs except for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Some of the current players have reportedly felt the pressure. Those lacking adequate experience may struggle under it.
The natural question that arises from this is whether Ten Hag is experiencing similar challenges; is a coach who excelled at Ajax simply struggling to adapt at a more demanding level? How many times can we see him frowning from the sideline? Moreover, the decision made by INEOS over the summer didn't do him any favors. It undermined his authority, particularly given the way he was practically put through an interview process for his own job.
Some insiders claim that Thomas Tuchel was very close to taking the position at that time, but there were disagreements regarding the financial aspects. Now, discussions about the German coach are picking up again, while the conversation around Gareth Southgate has quieted down a bit.
This suggests that many members of the team anticipated Ten Hag's departure last summer, and some are now expecting it to happen soon.
More and more players seem to be caught off guard by decisions lately. If this is the case, it shows in the tactical guidance that isn’t being followed or properly executed, resulting in the team appearing less intense. It’s puzzling to see how easily opposing players can get past them, and the issues with marking and wide-open spaces just add to the problem. The first goal that Porto scored on Thursday highlighted how many players are not performing at their best. While individual criticism is valid, the high number of mistakes typically indicates a larger, team-wide issue.
This is where the cycle feels even more recognizable, which is why people refer to it as "purgatory." It’s as if the team is unable to break free from a continuous downward spiral until a specific change is made.
However, there has been another pattern at United that has simply extended this situation. This involves unexpected positive performances, seemingly arising from the individual talent of the players rather than a cohesive team effort.
In this regard, it's important to emphasize that Ineos is committed to a long-term perspective on the matter; they are ensuring that no decisions are made hastily.
However, many believe that the decision was actually made during the summer, but they struggled to find a viable replacement. This raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of that choice and whether it might eventually become unmanageable. Relying solely on the positive outcomes of individual performances can only last so long; it seldom leads to meaningful change.
Even the ups and downs experienced during Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure ultimately turned into mere periods of poor performance. The momentum eventually comes to a halt.
Is that what's happening with Ten Hag? It's clear that he requires more than just a way out of this difficult situation. He needs a fresh start. If not, the same issues will continue to repeat themselves.
