Andy Cole offers Erik ten Hag sack counter, blaming Manchester United failures elsewhere

Andy Cole has offered an alternative view on Erik ten Hag’s potential Manchester United sacking, blaming issues at the club elsewhere.

Erik ten Hag is facing mounting pressure as Manchester United‘s manager following a third Premier League defeat in just six games this season.

Now 13th in the table, United’s struggles have been compounded by a disappointing home draw against FC Twente in the Europa League, fueling fan frustration and calls for Ten Hag’s dismissal.

Read More: Jonny Evans’ grave admission about Man United draw speaks volumes about Erik ten Hag

Recent setbacks, including a 3-0 loss to Tottenham and a 3-3 draw with Porto, have added to the scrutiny. Despite featuring eight of his own signings, Ten Hag’s teams have appeared disorganised and erratic.

In the Porto match, United squandered a 2-0 lead, only salvaging a draw through a stoppage-time header from Harry Maguire after Bruno Fernandes was sent off late in the game.

However, while the pressure was at its peak ahead of a Premier League tie against Aston Villa, United’s performance away from home was much more measured, with Ten Hag and Unai Emery battling out a 0-0 draw.

Speaking recently, former United striker Andy Cole has offered a counter-point on Ten Hag’s potential sacking, hinting that he feels the Dutch manager is not being given enough credit for successes over the last few seasons.

“Whatever the people in charge decide to do, it will be done with the best interests of the club in mind. That’s that,” Cold told BetFred.

“However you look at it, for an individual to win two cup competitions in their first two seasons at Manchester United, that’s not lucky. You can’t be lucky two seasons on the bounce. 

“The club will do whatever they decide to do, but if you look at the bigger picture, you can’t just blame the manager. The manager picks the players, but the players are the ones that have to go out there and win football matches. That’s the way it is.”

Further, he said: “It’s the same as any other manager because they want to be given a chance and they want to be given an opportunity. Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager in the club’s history, didn’t win a trophy in his first three years at Manchester United.

“Does constantly changing managers help? No, it doesn’t. Winning two cups in two seasons isn’t easy to do, regardless of what others say. If it was easy to do, then everyone would. If you take away Pep Guardiola, if you look at all the ‘elite’ managers in England at the moment, what have they won?

“They haven’t won a couple of trophies in their first two seasons, have they? If I was a manager and I won the League Cup and FA Cup in my first two seasons at a club like Manchester United, then I’d be buzzing. 

“I’ve met Erik a few times, and he’s a very nice guy, so I can only judge somebody by how they treat me.”

The United leadership team are meeting on Tuesday to discuss Ten Hag’s future at the club. By the end of the meeting, a decision on whether he will be sacked is expected.

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