Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is facing mounting pressure after his team suffered another humiliating defeat, this time at the hands of Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup fourth round. The Red Devils were booed off the pitch by their own fans after losing 3-0 at Old Trafford, their worst home defeat in the competition since 2011.
Ten Hag admits responsibility and frustration
Ten Hag, who took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2023, admitted he was responsible for the poor performance and said he was frustrated by the lack of consistency and quality from his players. He said: “We know it’s not good enough. We have to improve a lot. I have to take responsibility for it. I’m the one who picks the team and makes the decisions.”
The Dutchman, who led Ajax to four consecutive Eredivisie titles and a Champions League final appearance before joining Manchester United, said he was confident he could turn things around and asked for patience from the fans and the board. He said: “I’m a fighter. I don’t give up easily. I believe in this project and this club. We have a lot of potential, but we have to show it on the pitch. We have to stick together and work hard.”
Newcastle stun Manchester United with clinical display
Newcastle, who are bottom of the Premier League table and have not won a league game since August, stunned Manchester United with a clinical display of counter-attacking football. They took the lead in the 18th minute when Allan Saint-Maximin curled a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. They doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when Callum Wilson pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired past David de Gea.
Manchester United had more possession and shots, but failed to create any clear-cut chances and looked vulnerable at the back. Newcastle sealed their victory in the 78th minute when Miguel Almiron broke free on the right wing and squared the ball for Joelinton, who tapped in from close range.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, who played for Manchester United for nine years and won three Premier League titles, said he was delighted with his team’s performance and praised their spirit and resilience. He said: “It was a fantastic result for us. We came here with a game plan and executed it perfectly. We defended well, we were disciplined, we were brave, and we took our chances. It’s a great boost for our confidence and our morale.”
Manchester United in turmoil after worst start in decades
The defeat to Newcastle was Manchester United’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, following defeats to Brighton, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. They are currently ninth in the Premier League table, 12 points behind leaders Chelsea, and have only won four of their first 10 games. They are also bottom of their Champions League group, with only one point from three games.
This is Manchester United’s worst start to a season since 1989-90, when they finished 13th in the old First Division and Alex Ferguson was on the verge of being sacked. The club has not won a major trophy since 2017, when they lifted the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
The fans have expressed their discontent with banners, chants and protests outside Old Trafford, calling for Ten Hag to be sacked and for the owners, the Glazer family, to sell the club. The media have also been critical of Ten Hag’s tactics, team selection and signings, questioning his ability to handle the pressure and expectations at Manchester United.
