Man Utd chiefs have ‘made their minds up’ about under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is under enormous pressure following the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with Graeme Souness stating that club management have already determined his fate.

According to Graeme Souness, the Manchester United leadership has already taken a decision on Erik ten Hag’s future.

Ten Hag’s career is on the line following United’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, which has dropped them to 14th place in the rankings. United has won just two of its first seven league games, scored only five goals, and has a goal differential of minus three.

Ten Hag’s struggling team has also had a disappointing start to their Europa League campaign, losing 1-1 at home to FC Twente and 3-3 away to Porto after blowing a 2-0 lead. Against this backdrop, Ten Hag is trying to maintain his job, but is hobbling along – for the time being – after a United board meeting in London on Tuesday.

But Liverpool great Souness, appearing on the William Hill Three Up Front podcast, believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his United football officials have already chosen what to do with their under-pressure boss.”When it comes to whether or not they keep Erik ten Hag, I would think the owners have made their minds up already,” claimed Souness. “Unless United make a significant turnaround shortly.

“I’m not sure what to think of United anymore. We’ve been having the same debates about them for a decade, and I haven’t noticed any improvements, even under new ownership. I expected them to be better this season, but they have not progressed at all.

“And that is just the playing staff. I’m looking at the higher-ups and wondering if they’re going to turn Manchester United around. Where does their football expertise come from at the greatest level?”

Souness also criticized United’s poor summer recruiting, arguing that the additions of Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, and Noussair Mazraoui demonstrated a lack of ambition, since they were players who would not make a significant difference.”I look at the players they signed this summer,” Souness explained. “They brought in Ugarte, Zirkzee, and Mazraoui,” explained Souness. “But United is not a middle-of-the-road club. Will a team like Real Madrid sign such players? I don’t think they’re ambitious enough because they don’t go out and get players who can make a difference.

“In the end, that’s what ties Ten Hag. He is signing athletes with whom he has already worked, therefore they are not the result of someone else’s recommendation. He signed guys he knows and would have preferred, but they are still underperforming.”United spend exorbitant fees for players, yet they have a history of disastrous signings. You can go back to Anthony Martial, who was only released last season, but I wrote a column five years ago stating it was his final opportunity. They also signed Paul Pogba for a record transfer fee, which was insane!”