Gary Neville has sounded the alarm for Erik ten Hag by suggesting the struggling Manchester United manager could finally be shown the door this week.
The Dutchman is feeling the heat at Old Trafford following United’s fourth Premier League loss this term. The latest setback came against West Ham on Sunday, with Jarrod Bowen’s contentious penalty clinching the win for the Hammers.
With United languishing in 14th place after their worst ever start to a Premier League season, Neville voiced his concerns on his Sky Sports podcast. He said: “Erik ten Hag is asking for trouble.
“He’s 14th in the league nine games in, and nine games is nearly 25% of the season gone. It will be a big worry for everybody at the club because the performance levels… United should have been up but they lost.”
The Manchester United legend blasted the current crop of flops and Ten Hag’s recruitment, reports the Mirror. He said: “They are 14th, they’ve spent a fortune. I was quite clear at the end of last season that if they’re in that same position in the league after the first few months there will be a lot of questions being asked.
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“They’ve got a game in midweek but it will all come down to next weekend’s game against Chelsea. Anybody that is half decent, that can play, have the quality in parts of the pitch, can beat this United team and they’re in danger.”
He added: “I don’t think there can be another defeat next weekend at Old Trafford. It’s getting to that point where there is a real worry, I’m worried. The results, the lack of goals, lack of performances are stacking up week after week.
“These are the players that have been recruited over the last couple of seasons mainly. It’s a sobering time. It’s getting to the point whereby it will become unbearable the pressure in the next week or two around Ten Hag purely because of the position in the league. They’re 14th. You can’t be 14th in the league after nine games.”
Neville isn’t alone in his views; as former Tottenham star turned pundit Jamie O’Hara has also called for Ten Hag’s dismissal following Sunday’s loss. O’Hara went further, suggesting that Ten Hag’s assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, should take over as manager.
For now, Ten Hag is set to fight for his position, with United’s next game on Wednesday against Leicester in the Carabao Cup, followed by a critical match against Chelsea.