The manager at Manchester United almost perenially looks like one bad result away from a crisis and for Erik ten Hag, there has been way more than one.
The performances have been encouraging recently, but there’s only so long that the manager can hitch his wagon to performances if they don’t translate to results.
The 1-1 draw vs FC Twente at home was another setback after the frustrating goalless draw vs Crystal Palace, and now, Manchester United have won just three of their eight games so far this season.
With the upcoming fixture list only getting more daunting, it looks like it will be make-or-break time for Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Amidst all the madness, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made an admission that is sure to increase the pressure on the Dutchman.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Man Utd return
This is not the Norwegian’s first rodeo. Solskjaer was drafted in as the emergency interim manager to relieve the club of the toxicity under Jose Mourinho.
He, of course, did that and much more to eventually become permanent and mastermind United’s best finish in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
His tenure ended the same way as it did for previous managers, in a dust of smoke as hope vanished since players stopped performing.
That doesn’t seem like it’s the case yet for Ten Hag but the pressure is nonetheless growing and the urgency for positive results is dire.
Solskjaer was asked if he would return to Man United if given the opportunity and the Norwegian surprisingly was frank about it.
He said: “I don’t like to talk about other manager’s jobs, but yes. Of course, I would!”
Although Solskjaer says he doesn’t like to talk about other manager’s jobs, his honest admission is unlikely to play any part in toning down the rumour mill.
Time to move on
While Solskjaer’s admission is likely to get many fans swooning, after all, United arguably played the best football since 2012 under his tenure, the reality is that United have to move on.
The new ownership is clearly functioning with a long-term vision and a plan to achieve it, and going back to Solskjaer, who was a breath of fresh air but had his credentials questioned, is not the right move.
That’s not even considering that despite the poor results this season, United’s underlying stats show they are clearly doing a lot right.
The cutting-edge missing is costing them points and wins but at this point, the board has to work under the assumption that results will end up matching the performance in the long term.
Most importantly, the dressing room seems to be firmly behind the manager, the cause of doom for almost every man who was in the hot seat before him.
Champions League qualification is the aim this season and while United have hardly started on the front foot in the league, it only takes one sustained run to surge up the table.
The performances have shown that they have the quality to make that run. It’s worth sticking with the manager to see if that becomes a reality.
Solskjaer is going nowhere anyway because that’s how much he loves the club.
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