Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing the sack following the club’s joint-worst start to a Premier League season, but TV commentator Ally McCoist says it would be “madness” to remove him now.
Ally McCoist believes it would be “madness” for Manchester United to fire under-pressure Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag is under fire after managing United’s joint-worst start to a Premier League season. United are 13th in the rankings following three defeats in their first six games, including 3-0 home defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham.
Ten Hag has two crucial games away to Porto on Thursday and Aston Villa on Sunday, and he has to win both to relieve pressure and maintain his job heading into the international break.
Although there have been many calls for United to dismiss Ten Hag and start over with a new manager, former Rangers striker-turned-pundit McCoist believes this will not fix the club’s problems.
“It’s difficult to say how long United should give Ten Hag, because they’ve only just extended his contract,” McCoist told talkSPORT. “With the new owners offering him a new agreement, it would make sense for them to continue with him regardless of what occurs in the near future.
“It would be absurd to grant him a new contract and then fire him right immediately; it makes no sense.
“Unless there’s a rapid and unbelievable decline in results and standards, I think Ten Hag will be in charge at least until Christmas.”
Despite his view that United should remain with Ten Hag, McCoist acknowledged that the gap in skill and talent between them and the Premier League’s best teams is a serious source of concern.
“Manchester United have been one of the most disappointing sides in the Premier League this season,” pointed out McCoist. “They were overwhelmed by Liverpool and defeated by Brighton, and after just five games, it’s clear that they have no chance of winning the league.
“Their best chance of winning something this season is in one of the cups, and that is where they are right now.
“They need to start improving. The manager believes that the team’s performance has to improve and that they should begin stealing points away from teams higher up the league.
“There is no question that both performance and outcomes require improvement. United must consistently take three points away from the other clubs outside the top six.
“They’re always beaten by Manchester City and Liverpool, and Arsenal will most likely beat them this season.” The most concerning aspect for me is the disparity in class that was evident in their loss to Liverpool.
