No coach will do that. It’s not normal. Maybe he is tired of the Job. How can you make those decisions?”- Man United fans think Erik ten Hag decision proves he is ‘waiting to be sacked.
Manchester United fans are starting to believe that a decision made by manager Erik ten Hag during their recent 3-3 draw with Porto may signal that he’s simply biding his time before being dismissed.
After a heavy 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford, United came out strong in their Champions League clash at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao. Marcus Rashford showcased his skills early on, scoring a stunning solo goal just seven minutes into the match. Soon after, in the 20th minute, Rasmus Højlund, making his first start of the season, added a second goal for United. Both goals resulted from mistakes by Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and United appeared to be firmly in control.
However, things started to fall apart. Veteran defender Pepe pulled one back for Porto, and soon after, Samu Omorodion leveled the score with a header that United’s defense failed to clear. Early in the second half, Omorodion struck again, putting Porto 3-2 ahead and completing the turnaround. The young striker, previously with Atletico Madrid, gave United’s defensive pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt a tough time, exposing their weaknesses throughout the game. This led to heavy criticism of the new-look central defense.
It was Erik ten Hag’s next move, however, that sparked the most heated reaction from fans. In the 77th minute, he controversially substituted both Martinez and De Ligt, bringing on Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. The decision left supporters baffled.
One frustrated fan commented, “Maguire and Evans… still the same issues in midfield. Yeah, Erik’s waiting for that £17 million payout.”
Another, angry at the change, vented, “MAGUIRE AND EVANS COMING ON WHEN WE’RE LOSING???”
Sarcasm filled a third fan’s comment: “78 minutes gone. We’re down 3-2. Who do you call on? Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, of course.”
Yet another added, “Jonny Evans & Harry Maguire coming on when Manchester United are 3-2 down? Love it. Makes total sense. Come on, lads.”
Despite the widespread criticism, Maguire managed to pull off a surprise in stoppage time, scoring an equalizer that may have bought Ten Hag some time. United ended the game down to 10 men after Bruno Fernandes received his second red card in as many games, further complicating their upcoming challenges. They now face a tough away game against Aston Villa on Sunday, with pressure mounting on the team and the manager alike.It seems like Erik ten Hag’s decision-making is under intense scrutiny after Manchester United’s recent 3-3 draw with Porto. Despite a promising start with goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund, United’s defensive frailties allowed Porto back into the game. The controversial substitution of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt for Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans at a critical juncture in the match has led to significant fan backlash.
Fans saw the move as either an indication of Ten Hag being out of touch or, more cynically, as him waiting to be dismissed with a hefty payout. The defensive pairing of Maguire and Evans, both heavily criticized in the past, sparked disbelief among supporters, particularly as United were trailing at the time. However, Maguire managed to silence some of the criticism, at least temporarily, by scoring a late equalizer. Bruno Fernandes’ red card compounded the frustration, leaving United facing more difficulties in the coming games.
With an away match against Aston Villa looming, the pressure on Ten Hag is mounting, and it seems fans are increasingly losing patience with his tactical decisions. The result at Villa Park could be pivotal in determining whether Ten Hag can turn things around or if his tenure is nearing an end.
