Erik ten Hag claims Manchester United is not in a “crisis”

Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, says his club is headed on the right path and has dismissed rumours of a crisis at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag’s squad defeated a team currently ranked in the top 10 of the Premier League for the first time this season with two goals from Scott McTominay to earn a 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

Mauricio Pochettino of Chelsea revealed that the home club should have won the match, but United’s manager realised that his squad might have made things easier for themselves by grasping more of their opportunities.

But after a difficult few days during which the loss at Newcastle raised questions about uneasiness in the camp, Ten Hag was pleased with the result. “Crisis? Not for us,” he said. “We keep calm. The team is in a good direction. It is not a frustration, but we could have made our life easier [by scoring more]. We were very dynamic, proactive and brave and we are pleased with that.”

United’s sixth league victory in eight games was achieved, but Man of the Match Scott McTominay repeated the advice of former United defender Patrice Evra, who now works as a television commentator, saying, “Let’s not get carried away.”

Although Ten Hag disapproved of the viewpoint, the Scotland midfielder said that Ten Hag had arranged for light training sessions following the United defeat at Newcastle, lending support to reports that certain players at United feel they are working too hard. 

This season, McTominay has scored twice at Old Trafford. The last time, he scored twice in stoppage time to transform a game that Brentford was expected to lose into a 2-1 victory.

It wasn’t quite as dramatic as his most recent endeavour. Even McTominay admitted that he ought to have scored a hat-trick when Antony put him up, but he was unable to “cool down” and miskicked his attempt. Ten Hag believes that the 26-year-old, nevertheless, has the potential to be a valuable goal threat.

Before Thursday’s last two Premier League games of this round, United’s victory puts them back in the top six. Interestingly, they are now only three points adrift of Manchester City. However, notwithstanding Ten Hag’s well-intentioned remarks, much work remains.

The Champions League group stage fate of United is set to be decided on December 12 against Bayern Munich, but first, on Saturday, in-form Bournemouth visit Old Trafford. Then there are travels to West Ham and Liverpool, and on December 26, there’s a matchup with Aston Villa. Ten Hag’s remarks will have greater weight if they complete it.