Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is under immense pressure as the club finds itself in a precarious situation, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table. A 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday provided some respite, ending a five-game winless streak. However, with just two points from their first two Europa League matches, another setback looms as they face Jose Mourinho’s Roma on Thursday.
United had turned to Mourinho in 2016, hoping that the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ could compete with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. During his two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford, Mourinho added to his trophy collection, winning the League Cup and Europa League in his inaugural season. The following season, United finished as runners-up to Guardiola’s record-breaking City side, who amassed 100 points in the Premier League.
However, things quickly deteriorated, and Mourinho was dismissed before Christmas in his third season. Amidst the turmoil surrounding the club during his reign, Mourinho later reflected that finishing second with United in the 2017/2018 season was one of “the best jobs of my career.” This comment was characteristic of Mourinho’s penchant for dramatic statements, which have become synonymous with his three decades of managing Europe’s elite clubs.
Since Mourinho’s departure, United have struggled to reclaim their former glory. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and now Ten Hag have all failed to restore the club to its previous heights. Six seasons on, the 81 points accrued by Mourinho remains United’s best Premier League performance since their last title win in 2013. The drought for league titles looks set to continue, with City and Liverpool far ahead of United in terms of performance.
“It’s not just about this season; it’s been chaotic since we last won the league in 2013,” former United defender Patrice Evra told the BBC. The turmoil at the club is evident, and Ten Hag finds himself in a fight for his managerial life.
While Ten Hag has brought some silverware to Old Trafford, including a League Cup triumph and a surprising FA Cup victory over City in 2023, his reign has been largely underwhelming. Entering his third season in charge, there is a notable absence of a coherent playing style, despite a transfer market expenditure of nearly £600 million ($780 million). Much of this spending has gone towards reuniting Ten Hag with several of his former Ajax players.
Mourinho’s career has also taken a turbulent turn since his acrimonious departure from United. He returned to English football with Tottenham but failed to win any trophies during his time there. However, he found success with Roma, winning the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022. Despite reaching the Europa League final the following season, Mourinho’s time at Roma ended on a sour note as he was sacked in January 2023.
This led to his move to Fenerbahce, marking his first experience in Turkish football. Fenerbahce currently trails their Istanbul rivals, Galatasaray, by eight points in the Turkish Super Lig. United’s visit provides Mourinho with a grand stage to silence his critics, especially those from his time at United.
“It’s a big game for both of us,” Ten Hag acknowledged earlier this week. “He [Mourinho] is a winner and has won so many trophies. I think he is an example for many managers. I really enjoy playing against him.”
However, a loss to Mourinho’s Roma on Thursday would further intensify the scrutiny on Ten Hag and raise questions about his future at the helm of Manchester United.
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