Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has made a statement that Manchester United managerial position is “clearly too big” for Erik ten Hag. Keys has also accused pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane of going easy on the Dutchman’s performance, as reported dailymail.
United’s struggles continued as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Manchester City, marking their fifth loss in the opening 10 league games for the first time since 1986. They currently find themselves eight points adrift of the top four and are in danger of an early exit from the Champions League.
Ten Hag, who has spent over £386 million on new players, has faced criticism for a perceived lack of style and identity in his team. However, the United board reportedly continues to support him.
Neville attributed United’s woes to the ownership of the Glazers and a ‘toxic’ culture at Old Trafford, which prompted an exchange with Jamie Carragher. Keys agreed with Carragher, suggesting that Neville and Keane would have been more critical of previous managers in a similar situation.
Keys further criticized Ten Hag, labeling him as ‘deluded’ for claiming his team played well in the first half of the Manchester derby, despite a passive display. Keys stated, “Clearly the job is too big for Ten Hag. Clearly he’s lost his players.”
Fans also voiced their displeasure when Ten Hag substituted striker Rasmus Hojlund, who cost £72 million, during the game. There were concerns regarding team selection as Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon were left on the bench. Ten Hag defended his decisions, citing tactical reasons for the lineup.
United’s performance this season has been criticized for a lack of style and identity, but they have been dealing with numerous first-team injuries. Despite Ten Hag’s significant investment in new players, some high-profile signings, such as Mason Mount and Antony, did not make the starting XI for the derby.
Keys contended that Ten Hag has created a “shambles” with £410 million spent on players who struggle to secure a spot in the starting lineup. He emphasized the need for immediate impact from high-value signings.
In response to the match, Ten Hag stated, ‘First half, we played very well. The game plan went on how we wanted. We defended very good. They almost didn’t create – one big save from Andre in that start. We had two or three breaks, we had to take benefit from it.