ERIK TEN HAG has now masterminded Manchester United’s TWO worst starts in Premier League history.
The Dutchman’s job hangs by a thread after winning just two of his seven league games this season.
United big wigs including Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Dan Ashworth and Sir Alex Ferguson watched on as the team stumbled their way to a 0-0 bore draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.
And the result saw Ten Hag pick up only his eighth point of the campaign.
It means the Dutchman has recorded United’s WORST-EVER start to a season.
But incredibly, Ten Hag has was beating his own record.
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Only last season, he made history by taking just nine points in the first seven games.
That had only been done once before, by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 2019/20 season.
And after matching the Norwegian last term, Ten Hag has managed to go one better and secure one less point.
Fans reacted in disbelief to the news, having also seen their boss bring in more big-money signings this summer.
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One said: “This guy is breaking his own records.”
Another declared: “He keeps on challenging himself.”
One noted: “If this man survives this week, then we are done.”
Another added: “Trust the process.”
Speaking after United’s draw with Villa today, Ten Hag himself said: “We (the management) always speak, every week we speak.
“We are all on board together, on one page, we know what we are working through it’s a long-term process.
“We have come through two very tough away games. This is a team, we showed the belief and faith we have.
“I think it’s the fourth clean sheet this season. You see we had a very good organisation and togetherness. There was good character and good spirit as a team. Determined, resilient.
“We almost didn’t concede a chance, when you defend like this and get some luck, in the end they had a big chance but it was almost the only chance I think.
“We created some chances, also not so many chances. We hit the crossbar and also Rashford had chances. But the two teams were really balanced.
“In Porto our build-up was brilliant, so good in the first 25 minutes, we out-played Porto.
“Also Palace, in possession we were so good, we have had games this season where we are good. But today we didn’t create too many chances, but also we played a great team.
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“We create loads of chances in our seven games but we have to step up. We have to take into consideration Hojlund is returning, he’s still coming up to full fitness.
“But others are stepping up. I was impressed from Rashford, also Garnacho is so good, and Antony at the end.”
Man Utd player ratings vs Villa: Evans rolls back the years with Garnacho let down
MANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.
United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.
JONNY EVANS – 9
Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7
Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.
Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here!
Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.
SUBS
MATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.
VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.
ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.
CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
