Erik ten Hag’s Job on the Line as Manchester United Records Worst Start in Decades

Manchester United’s tumultuous season hit a new low on Saturday as they suffered a dismal 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, marking their worst start since 1930.

Manager Erik ten Hag did not mince words, slamming his players for lacking energy and motivation during a lackluster first half display that saw them muster just one shot.

The woes continued for United in the second half as Nicolas Dominguez put struggling Forest ahead. Although Marcus Rashford managed to equalize with his third goal of the season, Morgan Gibbs-White’s late strike sealed United’s fate, marking their fourth defeat in the last six games across all competitions.

Ten Hag expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s disappointing. The loss was unnecessary. We lost it in the first half. We weren’t energized enough or invested enough.” He urged his team to invest more in the first half and acknowledged that the inconsistent results were below their standards.

Blaming injuries for the team’s disastrous form, Ten Hag highlighted the challenges posed by the absence of key players throughout the campaign. United, currently nine points adrift of the top four, have lost nine of their opening 20 league games, a performance not seen since the 1989-90 season.

The defeat to Forest, the first since 1994, unfolded in front of Dave Brailsford, the head of sport for the club’s new investors, INEOS. The British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe recently acquired a 25% stake in the club.

With speculation surrounding ten Hag’s future, the manager remains confident, stating, “It will happen. No doubt about that. We will work together to set high targets.”

As the club grapples with its worst start in decades and a change in ownership, the pressure on ten Hag intensifies, leaving Manchester United at a critical juncture as they strive to salvage their season.