There’s no denying that Man United are enduring a less than satisfactory season at present, with former Premier League manager, Harry Redknapp, weighing in on the first-team’s current plight.
Erik ten Hag has seemingly overseen one disaster after another but still maintained in interviews that his team have played well even when anyone with just a passing interest in the game can see that the exact opposite is true.
Perhaps the Dutchman is so doing in order to try and convince himself that he is still worthy of the manager’s job at Old Trafford.
Harry Redknapp has called Man United “bang average”
He certainly won’t have enjoyed hearing Redknapp’s rant, after the 77-year-old let rip in an interview with Bet Victor (h/t TeamTalk).
“I’m not sure about them (United) – I thought they could finish in the top four at one point, but then they get beaten at home to Fulham and lose convincingly to Manchester City,” he was quoted as saying.
“I think they’re bang average to be honest – I said to someone the other night, ‘name me one player from this current United side who would get into Sir Alex Ferguson’s team’, and there isn’t one. That’s how it is now.
“I still make Tottenham favourites for fourth place. Aston Villa have been great too, but it’s beginning to look like a straight fight between those two clubs.
“At the moment, Manchester United are miles away – I don’t see them anywhere near winning the title or being close to doing so in the next few years either. I thought at one point they could finish in the top four this season, but then I watched that game against Fulham and I still reckon they’re miles away.”
Those words are likely to ring true with the Red Devils faithful who will be under the impression that the next couple of months will be ten Hag’s last in charge of the first-team.
He could point to injury concerns not being of help, and as has been seen with plenty of other teams, when your first-choice players aren’t available, results are generally going to be worse than if a full-strength XI takes the field.
However, the manager’s demeanour in interviews, the constant stories of player unrest that seems to make its way into the media and plenty more besides all point to a change of direction.