Could FA Cup Embarrassment be the End for Ten Hag
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Manchester United will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final for a second successive season. The game will give Eric Ten Hag the opportunity to win his second trophy in as many seasons with Manchester United.
However, the semi-final win over Coventry City was a complete disaster and leaves the Dutchman in a perilous position.
Manchester United were 3-0 up on Coventry City from the Championship with 20 minutes remaining in the FA Cup semi-final. The Red Devils were in total control and should easily have closed out the game.
Rather than maintain a strong defensive shape and pick off Coventry City on the counterattack, Manchester United were all over the place, with little discipline, and that allowed Coventry City to score 3 goals.
Into extra time and Coventry City were the team that came closest to winning the match, hitting the crossbar, and having a goal disallowed by VAR for an extremely close offside call.
Manchester United eventually won the game on penalties but the reaction from most of the players told the real story. It was an embarrassing performance by Manchester United and Ten Hag must know his job is on the line.
However, there was already a lot of talk about the future of Manchester United’s manager before a ball was kicked at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon. A place in next season's Champions League looks beyond Manchester United as they are 16 points behind fourth place Aston Villa in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have failed to win any of their last 6 matches inside 90 minutes under the guidance of Ten Hag and defensively, the team have been a shambles. Manchester United have conceded 2 or more goals in 5 of their last 6 fixtures in all competitions, including 4 goals at Chelsea in the Premier League and 3 against both Liverpool and Coventry City in the FA Cup.
Throughout the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, Manchester United have struggled at both ends of the pitch. For a long time they were struggling to score enough goals and have just 47 goals to their name in the Premier League this season.
Manchester United are comfortably the lowest goal scorers in the top 10 of the Premier League and four teams in the bottom half of the table have scored at least the same number of goals as Ten Hag’s men. In fact, Luton Town, who are in the relegation zone, have scored the same number of goals as Manchester United.
Recently, the tables have turned and Manchester United are scoring more goals but have been struggling at the back. Everton, who are 16th in the table, have conceded the same number of goals as Manchester United in the Premier League this season.
In their 6 most recent matches in all competitions, Manchester United have conceded a total of 15 goals at an average of 2.5 goals per game. With a goal difference of -1 in the Premier League, it is clear Ten Hag has failed to find the right balance between attack and defence.
The FA Cup semi-final was an embarrassment for Manchester United but the failure to find a balance between attack and defence is what is most likely to cost Ten Hag is job.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
FA
262747
2
1 - 2
3.69
11°
1.44
5.75
4.75
1.44
no
no
no
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