Gary Neville has warned Erik ten Hag he could be sacked from Manchester United, with the Dutchman facing the same fate as his predecessor due to the club’s rudderless approach.
United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after losing 3-0 at home to Newcastle on Wednesday evening, just three days after a draw against Manchester City.
Ten Hag has now endured United’s worst start to the season since the 1962-63 season and the club have lost five of their first ten home games at Old Trafford for the first time since 1930-31.
United finished third in the Dutchman’s first season, ending a six-year wait for success, but they have regressed dramatically this term, with Ten Hag seemingly unable to stop the rot.
“Last night we saw the Theater of Dreams turn into the Theater of Nothing. Every United fan is bored and feeling boring,” Neville wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Gary Neville has warned Erik ten Hag that he will be fired from Manchester United
Neville believes Ten Hag’s problems stem from a lack of structure at the club
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‘On the pitch the players are in shock, the performances are dismal and a manager is struggling before our eyes.’
And the former United right-back warned the string of dismal results could spell trouble for Ten Hag.
“We’ve seen it before, we know how it ends and we’ve had enough,” he added.
The Dutchman is United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired after winning the Premier League in 2013.
David Moyes’ ill-fated spell at Old Trafford lasted nine months, while Louis Van Gaal was unceremoniously defended after two seasons despite winning the FA Cup in 2015.
Jose Mourinho won two trophies but was sacked midway through his third season with United 19 points behind the league leaders after just seven wins in 17 Premier League matches.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the Portuguese on an interim basis in December 2018 and was appointed permanent manager four months later.
In July 2021, just two months after United lost the Europa League final on penalties to Villarreal, the Norwegian signed a three-year contract extension.
Neville suggested that Ten Hag’s predicament was similar to that of his predecessors
United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle on Wednesday evening
However, he was gone within four months after United managed just 17 points in the first twelve league games of the season and was replaced on an interim basis by Ralf Rangnick.
And Neville believes Ten Hag’s problems can be traced back to a lack of football structure at Old Trafford.
“In the last two games, Manchester United have played against two clubs that have installed good football departments to support the team on and off the pitch,” he said.
‘The opposite of United. We don’t have a sporting director.’