Former footballer turned pundit Paul Merson believes Erik ten Hag will get sacked if Manchester United lose their next three matches.
It’s crazy to think that in his second season in charge at United there is talk of Ten Hag getting sacked. Our form has been abysmal and the good work from last season feels forgotten.
Merson labelled United’s performance in their defeat to Newcastle as ‘shocking and embarrassing’ as our woeful season continued over the week. We are now seventh in the Premier League table and nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Things are even worse in the Champions League, as we sit bottom of Group A, and we’ve been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
There are reports that Ten Hag has lost 50% of the dressing room and Ten Hag is under pressure to turn things around.
And Merson believes that the next three games could determine the manager’s fate – though he does believe United will get a result when Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that Manchester United’s game against Newcastle was one of the most one-sided matches I’ve ever seen in the Premier League,” the former Arsenal man wrote for Sportskeeda.
“I thought it was embarrassing. I was shocked by the way United played and the lack of effort they put in.
“Chelsea, on the other hand, got a great result [against Brighton]. I didn’t see them winning the game after they went down to ten men, but they held their own, and fair play to them. Chelsea have the players to have a go at United, and I think this is going to be an exciting game.
“Chelsea are a more settled team now – you know their starting eleven, and if you take away that bad half against Newcastle, they’ve been good recently. They have a few defensive problems, but they did very well against Brighton with ten men.
“Manchester United are one of those teams that turn up in these games. They’ve had two bad games on the trot, but they do have a knack for keeping their head just above the water.
“If they lose to Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Bayern, I don’t see how Ten Hag keeps his job. I do think they’ll beat Bournemouth, however, and they could do well against a Bayern Munich side that has already qualified for the Round of 16.
“Chelsea haven’t been great defensively, and Man United are all over the place. They let in three goals against Galatasaray and could’ve conceded ten against Newcastle.
“I’m going to go in swinging with my prediction for this game – I expect a high-scoring draw. Prediction: Manchester United 3-3 Chelsea.”
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