ERIK TEN HAG’S Manchester United have won just one of their last nine matches in Europe.
The Dutchman may have won two domestic cups since arriving at Old Trafford.
However, last season’s eighth-placed finish was the club’s worst in the Premier League era.
And he has struggled to make his mark on the continent, too.
On Wednesday, Ten Hag saw his Red Devils take the lead against former club FC Twente.
But goalscorer Christian Eriksen had his pocket picked before the Eredivisie outfit grabbed an equaliser.
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From his 19 matches across the Champions League and Europa League since 2022-23, Ten Hag has now collected nine wins, four draws and six defeats.
Of those nine wins, five came in the Europa League group stage in his first season – two against Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia apiece with another three points against Real Sociedad.
United did beat Barcelona at home in the knockout play-off round then saw off Real Betis home and away but then fell to Sevilla.
In last season’s chaotic Champions League campaign, Ten Hag’s side managed one win against Copenhagen, a draw at Galatasaray and four defeats in Group A which also featured Bayern Munich.
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United finished bottom of the group to be knocked out of Europe.
This term, they began with that disappointing draw against Twente – to extend the miserable recent run ahead of facing Porto, Fenerbahce, PAOK, Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and Steaua Bucuresti in the new Europa League format.
Ten Hag fumed: “We kept them alive when 1-0 up controlling the game and then you have to be consistent and keep going in the second half, we dropped the level and gave a goal away.
“We didn’t finish it off, we had to go for the second goal and they stayed alive and we got punished with a mistake from ourselves.
“It was the game of their life, they fought for every yard and we didn’t – 99 per cent is not enough, you have to give 100 per cent, you have to kill the game, finish it off, we are leading 1-0, but you have to go for the second goal, then you kill the game.
“Especially as we are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform, prove the point and especially today in the second half we were too complacent, we didn’t bring it over the line and, as a team, you have to bring this.
“Today I have some criticism. It is not only the team that has to look in the mirror, I am part of it.”
Wednesday’s result bumped Ten Hag’s Manchester United win rate in European football below 50 per cent to 47 per cent.
But that record is not the worst of recent United bosses.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson, seven managers have led United in Europe.
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
The two interim bosses top and tail the list with Ralf Rangnick’s win rate zero per cent with two draws and a defeat while Michael Carrick secured victory in his one match.
That was a 2-0 win at Villarreal in the Champions League with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.
Ten Hag is only ahead of Louis van Gaal of the permanent bosses with the fellow Dutchman picking up three wins from his ten matches.
David Moyes managed victory in five of his ten games to return a 50 per cent win rate.
That is marginally behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on 54 per cent.
The Norwegian took charge of 35 European matches for United – more than anyone since Ferguson – and won 19, drew six and lost ten.
But of the permanent bosses, Jose Mourinho leads the way.
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He secured 18 victories, five draws and six defeats from 29 games to rack up an impressive 62 per cent win rate.
The Special One even lifted the Europa League trophy in 2017, beating Ajax in Stockholm to secure United’s sixth European trophy in their history.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
