It appears Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United might be approaching its end. United were outclassed and humiliated by Tottenham Hotspur in a crushing defeat at Old Trafford, leaving the manager under immense pressure.
Can Ten Hag hold on to his job? Based on this performance, it’s hard to see how. He might argue that the team was reduced to 10 men after captain Bruno Fernandes received a controversial red card, but that’s hardly a strong defense. Injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount were also setbacks, but they don’t excuse United’s lackluster performance.
United were poor before and after the red card, as Tottenham, led by a commanding display from James Maddison and an outstanding Dejan Kulusevski, dominated the match. With upcoming away games against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League—where Fernandes could be serving a suspension—United’s prospects look bleak if they continue in this form.
This situation tests the faith of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, who considered parting ways with Ten Hag during the summer but extended his contract instead. There’s little evidence of progress, raising the question: how can this be acceptable?
Ten Hag may call for patience, emphasizing that this is a young squad still growing, but after three seasons in charge, the team appears to be regressing. It’s unclear what kind of football Ten Hag is trying to implement, and these questions must be addressed by the club’s new owners.
The desire seems absent too. After a recent draw with Twente, Christian Eriksen hinted that the Dutch side wanted it more. Spurs showed the same hunger. It’s concerning that United were pinned in their own half from the kickoff—a sign that something needs to change, potentially the manager.
Ineos must also evaluate their summer signings. Players like Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui, and Manuel Ugarte were particularly underwhelming. Ugarte, in particular, was targeted by Spurs every time he had possession, suggesting either the players aren’t good enough or the coaching isn’t working.
United’s performance lacked intensity, pressing, passing, belief, and leadership. Players seemed lost, jogging around without purpose. It was chaotic. Ten Hag spoke optimistically about a potential comeback after Alejandro Garnacho hit the post, but it felt like a desperate hope. In reality, Spurs created nine big chances, with an xG (expected goals) of 4.67. United were fortunate to only lose by three goals.
This defeat means United have now lost three of their six Premier League games and sit in 12th place, six points away from European qualification. The fans showed some defiance, but many left before the final whistle after Spurs’ third goal.
Tottenham, despite being without their captain Son Heung-min and having played late on Thursday in the Europa League, were the better side. Even after a brief rally from United, Spurs added a third goal. Dominic Solanke’s close-range finish, from a set piece, was far too easy, summing up United’s defensive disarray. The first two goals were equally disastrous, with Brennan Johnson scoring for the fourth game in a row after Micky van de Ven breezed through United’s defense—something that wouldn’t happen against teams like Manchester City or Liverpool.
Spurs extended their lead in the second half when Johnson’s cross deflected off Matthijs de Ligt, setting up Kulusevski for a composed volley past André Onana, United’s best player on the night.
Fernandes’ red card came after a slip that led to a reckless challenge on Maddison. While it may have been a harsh decision, Fernandes had no one to blame but himself. He admitted as much, saying he let the team down. But in truth, the whole team failed—letting down the manager, the club, and the fans.
Ten Hag shoulders most of the blame. “The team showed character, resilience, and fight,” Fernandes claimed, but that’s hard to believe. This is the eighth time in 28 games that United have conceded three goals. Even though the scoreline flattered them, the reality was much worse. That’s the most damning fact of all.