‘I’d be really surprised’… Pundit would be shocked if Manchester United man’s still at Old Trafford next term
Robbie Mustoe, in light of Manchester United’s recent loss to Fulham over the weekend, has expressed his skepticism about the continuity of certain personnel at Old Trafford in the upcoming season.
The defeat against Fulham served as a stark reminder to Manchester United that despite the hopeful atmosphere surrounding the club following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s involvement, there remains a considerable amount of groundwork to be done. Fulham emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, with Alex Iwobi clinching the winning goal in stoppage time, leaving little room for debate regarding the outcome, considering Marco Silva’s team’s impressive performance.
One individual whose presence at Manchester United next season would catch Mustoe off guard is Erik ten Hag. Throughout his tenure at the club, the Dutch manager has faced significant criticism for his inability to propel the team forward. There have been instances where it seemed evident from an external perspective that ten Hag might not be the ideal candidate to lead the club into the future. Despite reports suggesting INEOS’s admiration for ten Hag’s efforts, Mustoe, speaking on The 2 Robbies podcast, expressed his genuine surprise at the prospect of the 54-year-old remaining in charge when the next season commences.
Mustoe highlighted the club’s recent efforts in recruiting high-caliber individuals, such as pursuing top-tier personnel from Manchester City and acquiring respected figures like Dan Ashworth from Newcastle as a testament to their ambition. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging ten Hag’s contributions while aiming to secure a manager of similar stature to propel the club forward.
The challenge facing the Manchester United hierarchy lies in their history of cycling through various managers since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Despite occasional flashes of promise, the reality remains that they are no closer to reclaiming their former glory than they were a decade ago under David Moyes’ tenure. While there may be promising developments underway off the pitch, the on-field performance leaves much to be desired.
Ten Hag, undoubtedly, will advocate for his continued role as the right individual to guide Manchester United’s resurgence. However, the skepticism surrounding his capabilities indicates the magnitude of the task ahead of him in proving his critics wrong and instilling confidence in his leadership abilities.
