Man United fans blaming wrong person for Spurs error as major misconception explained

Manchester United fans were furious with how Erik ten Hag’s side defended from set-pieces against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening.

The 2-2 draw at Old Trafford saw the visitors score from a simple corner routine and create several other chances from set-pieces. Diogo Dalot cleared one attempt off the line shortly before Spurs‘ first equalising goal.

Set-pieces have been a large problem for United in a season full of difficulties, both attacking and defending.

After the game, many supporters took their frustrations out on first-team coach Eric Ramsay. The former Chelsea coach was brought into the club under Ole Gunnar Solskjær as the first-team set-piece coach.

However, the highly-rated coach has since become an important part of the coaching setup under Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag.

Since the Dutchman took charge at the club, Ramsay has taken on a much wider role, according to the Manchester Evening News, and Ten Hag decided to keep him in his backroom staff alongside assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren.

He has much larger responsibility and takes the majority of training sessions alongside Van der Gaag and Darren Fletcher. Ramsay also aids squad preparation for games and the planning of training sessions.

Instead, set-piece training is now a collaborative process, with Ten Hag more involved in the planning. United also hired a new set-piece analyst.

Simply, Ramsay is not the man who should be blamed for the set-piece failings. Many are unaware of his change in responsibilities since Ole Gunnar Solskjær left the club.

Former assistant coaches under the Norweigan, Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick, were often blamed for their lack of experience, among other things, from certain areas of United’s fanbase.

Both are now excelling as first-team managers at Ipswich and Middlesbrough respectively.