Erik ten Hag believes he has pinpointed reason behind United’s inconsistency this season

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes he has pinpointed exactly where the Red Devils are going wrong this season.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have been incredibly inconsistent this season with the Red Devils’ recent 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, coming off the back of their 2-1 win over Chelsea.

That victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked to be the kickstarter for Ten Hag’s side but this United team are frustratingly inconsistent this season and the Red Devils were soundly beaten by Andoni Iraola’s South Coast side.

Going into a game of this magnitude in inconsistent form is not ideal, but the Red Devils have to battle through it and defeat the Bavarian side.

Ten Hag on big issue

Speaking to the media ahead of the clash against Bayern Munich, Ten Hag believes he has pinpointed the one big reason behind United’s struggles this season.

“[Last year], we had a regular team, with not so many changes, especially in our backline,” Ten Hag began.

“We had a long time [with] a regular formation and that helps you. Then you get the routines in. So we have to wait for that [but] until that moment, we have to deal with it, as every team has to deal with it. It’s not only us.

“But I’m sure when we get back to a regular base, then we will play better. You have a better opportunity to win games and a better opportunity of a chance that you are consistent.

“I think first of all, yeah, it’s personnel [rather than mentality],” he explained. “But I’m aware that’s my job that we have to be really tough, if you have to do it [perform well] every third day.”

The Red Devils have struggled to field a consistent back four this season with their first-choice defensive unit being either injured or out of form for the season.

The Dutchman is right

No matter what people say, the Dutchman has been incredibly unlucky for the Red Devils this season with Raphael Varane potentially the only defender out of the back four not to have been injured for a sustained period.

Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez, three of Ten Hag’s first-choice back four towards the end of last season, have all been out for the majority of the season.

Every team has injury issues but United’s this season has been nothing short of ridiculous, Ten Hag has been very unlucky this campaign.