Former Liverpool and Newcastle defender Luis Enrique believes the majority of the Manchester United dressing room wants Erik ten Hag sacked and that the Dutchman is unlikely to last until the end of the season. United opted for Ten Hag as their fifth permanent manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era when they appointed him last year and he impressed in his debut campaign.
Ten Hag got United back into the top four and won them their first major trophy in six years by clinching the Carabao Cup. That acted as a good springboard heading into his second season and he was heavily backed in the transfer window with big money spent on Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.
But the Red Devils started the campaign in dire form, losing four of their opening seven league matches as well being knocked out of the Carabao Cup and suffering disappointing results in Europe. They’ve turned their league form around with four victories from their last five matches, but none of those have been convincing with United yet to win by more than a single goal.
Pressure is mounting on Ten Hag to prove he can still be the man to turn things around at Old Trafford heading into their game against Everton. However, Enrique believes Ten Hag is already on borrowed time at United and that his players are no longer on his side.
“I do not think Ten Hag will finish this season at Manchester United,” Enrique told Grosvenor Sport. “If they do keep him it will be because they are wanting to stick with a long-term project and they believe that he can change things.
“I think he has lost the dressing room. I’m not sure how long Manchester United will keep him for but I don’t think they have any chance of making the top four this season. The players should still go out and perform regardless, but it’s true that when you like the manager you play better for them.
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“You want to win for them as well as for yourself and the fans. I don’t believe that this is the case at United. I actually think that the players would be happy if Ten Hag was sacked.
“They want someone else and they don’t believe that he is the right man. I don’t think he has the backing of many players in the dressing room anymore – he’s lost it.”
A convincing win over Everton could be the uplift United need to get going ahead of a hectic festive schedule. But their biggest game of the year comes against Galatasaray on Wednesday evening in a must-win Champions League tie.
United currently sit bottom of their group, but Copenhagen and Galatasaray are only one point ahead of them. If Ten Hag’s side lose to Galatasaray and Copenhagen beat Bayern Munich this week then United will be out of the Champions League as well as having no chance to qualify for the Europa League either.
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