GARY NEVILLE fears Erik ten Hag could be sacked by Manchester United after their Bournemouth horror show.
The Red Devils were thrashed 3-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon in a blow to their top four hopes.
Neville has now warned fans “it’s happening again” as the pressure mounts on Ten Hag.
Writing in his Sky Sports column, the ex-United defender admitted: “I fear for Erik ten Hag generally – not just because of this week.
“[Facing] Bayern Munich and Liverpool should take care of itself. What will happen, will happen.
“A cycle is repeating itself again: manager has a half-decent season, he gets a lot of power.
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“There’s no control above him to say ‘no’ when he wants players, there’s no strength of leadership, a manager then takes over and signs his own players that he favours.”
Ten Hag achieved a third place finish in his debut season with United as well as winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup final.
However, his side are currently sixth this term, six points adrift of the top four and at risk of an early Champions League exit.
Neville believes history could repeat itself if the Dutchman’s fortunes do not improve.
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He added: “We’ve seen it with Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“But coaches and managers aren’t the heads of recruitment.
“They lean towards certain players they may have worked with before, and they try to merge them into a team with players that another manager has signed.
“The players then don’t look like they fit together, the atmosphere becomes a bit toxic, there’s a fall-out or two, then the manager starts to come under a bit of pressure. And then usually, they get sacked.
“I’ve been here so many times over the past six, seven, eight years – and it’s happening again before our eyes.”
United’s three previous permanent managers, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, all managed just two full seasons before they were dismissed.
Neville has given Ten Hag his support, though, ahead of a potentially pivotal week in his tenure.
The 12-time Premier League winner added: “I hope that somehow Erik ten Hag can turn it around this season and he can improve what’s happening at the moment, or else he will be in trouble as it’s inevitable.”
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United must beat Bayern Munich on Tuesday to have any chance of progressing in the Champions League.
Ten Hag and his team then visit Liverpool on Sunday, having lost four of their last five trips to Anfield, including last season’s 7-0 drubbing.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
