Erik ten Hag “treading a tightrope” as senior Manchester United figures lose patience – report | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag is once more feeling the heat at Manchester United, with senior figures at the club said to be disgruntled with the Dutchman’s style of play.

The “word filtering from the Old Trafford hierarchy” is that the top brass want United to be able to defend and score in equal measure and, with just five goals in five league matches, the United boss is failing to meet those expectations, according to GiveMeSport.

The report states that “Erik ten Hag is treading a tightrope if he can’t get the balance right”, and adds that “patience is beginning to wear thin” with the team’s lack of potency in front of goal.

It’s early days, but there are positive signs that Ten Hag’s side are taking big strides forward defensively at least, the goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend making it three clean sheets in a row in all competitions.

But that same match also demonstrated the team’s flaws at the other end of the pitch, which are heaping pressure on the manager.

United’s 7-0 drubbing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup last week boosted morale and got key forwards Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho back amongst the goals, but needs to be understood for what it was – a thumping victory over League One opposition.

That was a match, beneath the lights at Old Trafford, where things came off for the United attack in a way which just hasn’t happened in the Premier League yet.

Although desperately short of goals, Ten Hag could be forgiven for feeling frustrated with the reported ultimatum from above given his side’s creativity so far this season.

As per the Premier League’s stats, United top the table for big chances missed, squandering 17 already in just five games – that’s five more than anyone else.

It’s hard to pin misfiring attackers solely on the manager, and he will be hoping that Rasmus Hojlund, who bagged 16 goals in 43 matches last season to finish as the club’s top scorer, gets back to his best quickly once he is back in the team.

The young Dane missed the start of the season through injury, but showed how sharp he can be with a run of six goals in five games in January and February this year before returning to the medical room.

GiveMeSport report that Hojlund is a “hard worker, keen listener and a clean-living star eager to improve and seize his chance at Old Trafford”, and no doubt his manager will be praying that he crashes straight back into form when he next dons a red shirt.

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