Erik ten Hag is still belaboring under serious pressure following Manchester United\u2019s dramatic draw with Porto in the Europa League on Thursday and in dire need of a positive result against Aston Villa at the weekend.<\/p>\n
The week had certainly not favored the Dutchman and his Red Devils. After being told he needs results in both games against Porto and Aston Villa, the Red Devils couldn\u2019t have gotten off to the worst possible start in Portugal when they collapsed after having gone 2-0 up, and ended up behind heading into stoppage time.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for the gaffer, former captain Harry Maguire\u00a0came to the rescue with a late header to snatch a point. The pressure is still on ahead of this weekend\u2019s clash with Aston Villa. The Red Devils travel to the Midlands on Sunday in desperate need of a win.<\/p>\n
Jamie Carragher has claimed that Jim Ratcliffe\u2019s decision to keep Erik ten Hag in the summer has been the invariable trigger for United\u2019s troubles this season.<\/p>\n
“If Manchester United\u00a0fail to massively improve this season, the ultimate responsibility lies with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos,” Carragher wrote for The Telegraph.<\/p>\n
“The latest mess is on their watch, with United already struggling to convince they are equipped to qualify for next year\u2019s Champions League. There is no point sugar-coating it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new United hierarchy have made a deeply unimpressive start to their Old Trafford reign with one of their worst decisions being the most important any board can make. Above all, you must ensure you have the right manager. Retaining Ten Hag is proving the catalyst for another wasted campaign and possibly another \u00a3200 million down the drain.”<\/p>\n
Interestingly, amid his former club\u2019s ongoing issues, Sir Alex Ferguson apparently opted not to watch United in action against Porto\u00a0on Thursday but decided instead to attend Rangers\u2019 Europa League\u00a0showdown with Lyon.<\/p>\n
However, the Scottish side did not fare particularly well in France as they were handed a 4-1 defeat. Nonetheless, video footage showed him keeping tabs on the game. telling fellow attendees the score between United and Porto, just after Maguire had forced home his late equaliser.<\/p>\n
Erik ten Hag had decided to substitute Marcos Rashford\u00a0vs Porto after a heated dressing room exchange, Don Hutchinson has suggested. He said: \u201cI\u2019m not buying it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in dressing rooms at half-time, full-time and before games and it\u2019s one of those where Erik ten Hag \u2013 and I\u2019m not questioning him, because he knows his players and what\u2019s gone on \u2013 I\u2019m surmising from an ex-players\u2019 point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hutchinson added: \u201cBut while the game\u2019s in the balance at 2-2 in a big game, I don\u2019t buy rotation, so I wonder if there\u2019s been some sort of conflict or argument at half-time. That can happen. That\u2019s what I\u2019d be leaning towards. I could be wrong, but that\u2019s what I\u2019m leaning towards.\u201d<\/p>\n
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