Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United, which lasted for two and a half years, has proven to be a topic of mixed opinions among fans and critics alike.
During his tenure, he managed to break a prolonged trophy drought of nearly four decades by winning two domestic cups, including a significant victory against Manchester City.
However, the frequent embarrassing losses and surprising results made his eventual exit on Monday almost unavoidable.
In this article, we explore some of the challenges and pitfalls that ten Hag faced during his time at Old Trafford.

One major aspect of ten Hag’s time at the club was the financial expenditure on player transfers, amounting to approximately £615 million (or $800 million) since he took charge in the summer of 2022.
Only Chelsea has invested more in that time within the Premier League.
Unfortunately, many of these signings have not performed up to expectations.
There appeared to be a lack of foresight in the recruitment, as most players were either familiar to Ten Hag from his time in the Netherlands or had played in Dutch leagues.
In the most recent summer window, United spent around $240 million, including bringing in Dutch internationals Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, alongside Noussair Mazraoui, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
One of the most significant disappointments has been Antony, the Brazilian winger who transferred from Ajax for $95 million but has fallen out of favor and barely features in matches.

Another area of concern has been ten Hag’s tactical approach and the distinct lack of a cohesive style of play.
His time at United has been characterized more by sporadic moments of brilliance rather than a unified system, diverging greatly from the attractive football he was known for at Ajax.
In contrast, rival managers such as Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, Unai Emery at Aston Villa, and Arne Slot at Liverpool have promptly established a strong identity within their teams despite having shorter tenures.
Meanwhile, Manchester City and its manager Pep Guardiola have been showcasing some of the finest football to be seen in the English league.
On the other hand, ten Hag’s tactical decisions have led to moments of confusion, such as deploying Mazraoui, a fullback, as a No. 10 during a recent Europa League match against Fenerbahce, which ended in a 1-1 draw despite the opposition playing with ten men.

Statistically, ten Hag’s reign will be marked by an array of unfavorable outcomes and significant defeats.
As it stands, United is experiencing its worst start to a Premier League season, currently sitting in 14th place with just 11 points after nine games.
This dismal performance follows a record low finish of eighth place in the Premier League era since its inception in 1992.
The club’s 7-0 loss to Liverpool last season remains a striking embarrassment, marking the heaviest defeat against their fiercest rivals and the worst competitive loss in over 90 years.
His time at United has also included a 6-3 defeat to Man City, 4-0 losses to clubs like Brentford and Crystal Palace, and an undesired last-place finish in a Champions League group that included Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.

Despite these issues, some may feel a degree of sympathy for ten Hag, as he might have been a capable coach that simply arrived at United during a turbulent period.
His entire term has been characterized by instability and change behind the scenes, starting with the club being put up for sale during his first two years and facing heavy criticism regarding its management.
In the last few months, United has been undergoing adjustments under new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, who is leading the club’s soccer efforts.
Financially, ten Hag has always had ample resources at his disposal, regardless of the organizational structure, which calls into question his performances when managing the quality of players at his command.
As Manchester United seeks to reclaim its competitive edge against top teams like City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, the need for a more dynamic and assertive leader has become apparent—qualities that ten Hag struggled to convey during his time at the helm.