Jamie Carragher launches surprise Erik ten Hag defence as Man United’s real issue is pointed out

Jamie Carragher has leapt to Erik ten Hag’s defense, stating that he isn’t solely to blame for Manchester United’s difficulties this year.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has launched a defence of Erik ten Hag (Image: Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher thinks Erik ten Hag will have a tough time finishing the season at Manchester United, but he maintains that he still feels sorry for the Dutchman because he was “hung out to dry” by the team’s owners.

United’s poorest start to a Premier League season was sealed with Sunday’s goalless draw against Aston Villa. Prior to that, they had only seven points from eight games and had suffered crushing home losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

The club’s dismal start to the new campaign coincides with Ten Hag’s worst-ever Premier League season, which saw United meander to an eighth-place finish, eight points outside of the Champions League spots, only a few months prior.

Even after organizing an unexpected 2-1 FA Cup victory over Manchester City back in May, Ten Hag was expected to leave Old Trafford as the team’s owners supposedly had conversations with a number of possible successors.

Carragher, nevertheless, thinks Ten Hag’s time is running out because he foresees United firing the Dutchman in the coming months.

“I believe it will be difficult for him to continue as manager after the upcoming international break. He will, of course, if the results are favorable. With Manchester United, it’s not really just about the outcomes. “I believe that it has truly been about performances for a long time,” Carragher said to Sky Sports.

And when they do receive results, it often felt lucky in a way. I believe that Scott McTominay scored a lot of goals for them in the last moments of the previous season.

“You know, they will eventually be unable to achieve long-term success if the performances don’t improve. That’s football; they might occasionally achieve a result, which is why we adore the sport. Unexpected events can occur. However, as far as performances go, the first few episodes of this season haven’t really changed much from the previous ones.

“Listen, I know this will be difficult for him, but I feel bad for him because I believe he’s been held somewhat responsible for the ownership’s conversations with other managers during the summer.

“I feel bad for him because no manager or worker would want their superiors to address a wide range of individuals in public during a game. It will be difficult for him to finish the season.”