Manchester United: Erik ten Hag looks like a goner as season hits embarrassing new low
Erik ten Hag is under growing pressure as Manchester United manager after Monday night's dismal 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
The Dutchman maintains he is still the right man to lead the Red Devils, but the rout at Selhurst Park was a new low in a torrid season.
It left United eighth in the table and facing an uphill battle to secure European football for next season. Ten Hag's side have won only one of their past eight matches in 90 minutes.
United are in transition, with almost all of the squad reportedly up for sale and Ten Hag's position under review as INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes complete control of the club's sporting decisions.
After reaching the FA Cup Final last month by beating Coventry on penalties, Ten Hag was asked whether squandering a 3-0 lead was embarrassing. He replied by insisting instead the media's coverage of United had been embarrassing.
Last night was United's heaviest defeat of the season and a record-breaking 13th in a single Premier League campaign.
They have conceded 81 goals in all competitions — their highest tally since the 1976-77 season — and are on track for their lowest-ever Premier League finish, having never finished below seventh.
Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports's coverage last night: "This is one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League. That is not an opinion, that is a fact.
"The numbers tell you that, when they are bottom of the league defensively, lower than Sheffield United. I struggled to see how United would win tonight. No United team should be getting beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace."
England manager Gareth Southgate and outgoing Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel have been linked with the United job, but Ten Hag is confident he can turn things around once some of his 11 injured players have returned.
"Absolutely, if the right players are there and available we have a good squad," he said.
"I'll keep fighting, I prepared the team in the best way I could do. It was by far not good enough, but I'll find energy to prepare for Sunday's game. This was our worst defeat. It was very poor how we gave the goals away — we got hammered."
