- Manchester United turbulent player management
- Internal competition disrupts stability
- Uncertain future amid team turmoil
A dysfunctional aspect of Manchester United troubled season is the number of players mentioned in an Erik ten Hag rendition of the renowned phrase from The Godfather Part III. The manager influences the exile status of Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay, Raphaël Varane, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, and Jonny Evans. When they believed they were out, he pulled them back in.
All have been rejected and reinstated to different extents, as Ten Hag executes (at times perplexing) U-turns that indicate he is uncertain who should comprise the XI or whether he has any plans. Ten Hag’s unit, which has appeared in 24 games across all competitions, suffered 12 losses, 11 wins, and one draw, and it travels to Liverpool on Sunday. This is anything but an optimal situation.
Varane is the most recent individual to encounter Ten Hag’s selection hokey-cokey. The A-list defender, who won three La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and the 2018 World Cup, began the season as the first-day hero whose header triumphed over Wolves.
Varane’s Rollercoaster Return
Late in October, however, he was substituted for United’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City following an injury-marred stretch. His comeback was delayed until Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, which eliminated United from Europe.
Ten Hag provided an explanation in November regarding Varane’s non-committal to the football team. While Maguire led an ascent from fifth-string centre-back (behind Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw) status the previous season.
He stated regarding Evans, a 35-year-old free agent ahead of Varane: “Harry didn’t play much. So I was highly pleased with Rapha’s performance. Currently, however, Harry is performing exceptionally well. Internal competition exists.
Maguire’s return signifies more a resurrection than a triumph over his manager’s frequently cited internal rivalry. Ten Hag relieved him of the captaincy on the initial day of the summer tour in New Jersey in July.
This bloody nose was followed by the rabbit punch of McTominay being selected to don the armband during the final warm-up game against Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas, while Maguire and Bruno Fernandes were not in the starting lineup. West Ham would have gotten Maguire if United had agreed to pay £7 million for the wage gap.
Midfield Turmoil and Striker Shifts
Similarly, McTominay is appreciating a Lazarus act. Like Maguire, the Scot, United’s top scorer and Ten Hag’s No. 8, was available for purchase this offseason.
Ten Hag would now be confronted with the January departures of Varane and Casemiro, his erstwhile preferred midfielders. After his injury rehabilitation, the former will contend for the starting lineup with Amrabat and Kobbie Mainoo, not McTominay.
During an assault, the state of flux persists. Rashford, who scored 30 goals for Manchester United in 2022-23, has been a substitute in the last two matches due to the return of Antony and Garnacho, both of whom were dismissed by Ten Hag this season.
Rasmus Højlund, who has failed to score in 12 Premier League appearances, was recently substituted at centre-forward for Newcastle (resulting in a 1-0 loss) and Bournemouth (destroyed 3-0). Ten Hag opted for Martial (1 in 13) over Højlund, reinstated for Chelsea’s 2-1 win and Bayern’s 1-0 loss.
Ten Hag twice dispatched Martial into a mid-match banishment. He was substituted early in the second half of Newcastle and Bournemouth despite being entrusted to lead the line.
The Dutchman then revealed that he would allow him to be bought the following month to make the stipulation permanent.
The clue to Ten Hag’s seemingly unending cycle of promotion and demotion lies in the club’s last four results (loss, win, loss, loss): “Internal competition” is unnecessary if the eleven players sent out for any given match perform admirably, earn three points, or advance to the subsequent round of the cup.
Varane, Casemiro, and Rashford were as established as Maguire, McTominay, and Garnacho as substitutes in Ten Hag’s first season. Third place, the Carabao Cup, and a June FA Cup final rematch against City at Wembley were the Reds’s rewards. All of this, however, has changed.
Internal Struggles and Ownership Uncertainty
Ten Hag’s judgement regarding the acquisition of Casemiro two summers ago at 30 on a contract worth approximately £350,000 per week is called into doubt in light of his improved performance this season. Additionally, the uncertain evaluation of three of his other acquisitions—Antony, Eriksen, and Amrabat—by their respective managers influences whether or not they are in favour.
In reality, two varieties of “internal competition” exist. At City, Pep Guardiola has perfected his relentless winning engine to the point where he can replace a lead act. Such as John Stones, for Rico Lewis without fear of a decline in performance, notwithstanding the recent hiccup.
Ten Hag’s continuous substitutions at United are meant to prevent an unstable atmosphere at every level of the company.
The Glazers’ on-again, off-again sale of United (well, 25% to Sir Jim Ratcliffe) torments the numerous board members who desire the departure of the despised Americans. High-ranking executives, including the football director, John Murtough, operate at a distance from the proprietors as they await word on whether or not Ratcliffe, who will be in charge of football policy, will retain them.
Ten Hag, besieged amidst this anarchy, struggles to restore order to the team to safeguard his position.
Immediately, a resolved formula must be identified. 4.30 p.m. on Sunday at Anfield’s bear den is not the finest moment. Instead, examine how a strong performance might help him overcome his changing cast.
If not, Ratcliffe may use his version of a well-known Godfather line when he eventually becomes a co-owner. “making an offer” that Ten Hag cannot decline and directing him to the exit.
