MANCHESTER United set more unwanted records in the 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
A brace from United transfer target Michael Olise, along with goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell, highlighted the difference in class between the two sides.
The defeat means that Ten Hag’s men remain in 8th place, with a negative goal difference keeping them behind Chelsea in 7th.
It also means the club have lost 13 games in a single Premier League season for the first time.
That beats David Moyes’ first and only season at Old Trafford, in 2014, in terms of defeats.
Erik ten Hag has blamed injuries for the lack of progress this season with the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire all suffering badly.
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That partly explains how they have now conceded 81 goals across all competitions, their highest since the 1976-77 season.
New investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe was looking to give Ten Hag until the end of the season to prove that he is the right man to continue leading the club.
But he is facing fresh calls to be sacked ahead of their game against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
And while most United supporters would accept that Ten Hag’s fate has been sealed, some Gunners fans hope the Dutch coach stays for at least a little while longer in case his sacking prompts a reaction by his struggling squad.
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The title chasers head to the Theatre of Dreams at the weekend where a win would ensure that the North London club head into the final week of the season at the top of the table.
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And despite being the clear favourites, Arsenal’s poor record at Old Trafford means that they’ll be looking for any advantage.
Since 2006 they have only won once, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the decisive penalty in an empty stadium due to Covid restrictions in 2020.
With Arsenal on top form this season and having a fully fit squad, they will be expected by many to improve that away record.
But Mikel Arteta’s men have suffered from new manager bounce before, when Everton shockingly beat title-chasing Arsenal in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge last season.
One fan on X sarcastically posted: “I keep telling y’all that Ten Hag is better than Arteta.
“Give him time at United. Trust the process. Give him more money.”
Another fan was more cautious around Erik ten Hag’s situation, saying that: “He’ll be sacked by next week and we’ll have to deal with Interim Manager Bounce FC.”
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The Dutch manager, however, remains firm in his belief that he is the right man in the dugout, taking responsibility for the loss but reassuring fans that he will keep fighting.
Michael Owen believe he should go now – with a surprise choice to replace him.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
