Manchester United's Struggles Blamed On Erik Ten Hag's Tactics After Tottenham Setback

• Erik ten Hag and his Manchester United side suffered a chastening defeat at Old Trafford on September 29
• United was handed a 3-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, stretching a winless run to three in all competitions
• YEN.com.gh has dissected where United's downfall has stemmed from - player efforts or coaching tactics

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Manchester United have continued to struggle under Erik ten Hag, with Tottenham Hotspur completely exposing the Old Trafford club's weaknesses.

In their second-heaviest campaign defeat, the Red Devils completely capitulated to a dominant Spurs outfit that outclassed them in every department.

The warning signs were evident early on when Tottenham set the tone for their eventual triumph in the Premier League clash on September 29, 2024.

According to the BBC, Brennan Johnson capitalised on a driving run from Micky van de Ven, finding himself in the perfect spot to tap it in from close range.

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The ease of the goal underscored United’s defensive frailties.

Things went from bad to worse for the Dutchman's charges just before half-time when captain Bruno Fernandes received a red card for a reckless lunge on James Maddison.

Although the Portuguese midfielder's dismissal left United with a numerical disadvantage, they were already outplayed and lacked cohesion before Fernandes left the field.

Tottenham continued their dominance after the break, extending their lead two minutes into the second half.

The Guardian reported that Dejan Kulusevski capped off a swift counter-attack by lofting the ball over Andre Onana with a precise finish, adding to United's woes.

Dominic Solanke rounded off a hard-working performance with a well-deserved goal 12 minutes from time, ensuring the scoreline reflected Tottenham's superiority.

For United fans, it was yet another nail in the coffin for Erik ten Hag.

United's struggles: coach or players to blame?

Amid growing calls for ten Hag's dismissal, YEN.com.gh spoke with Fiifi Manfred, a Ghanaian Performance Analyst, to dissect whether United’s downfall stemmed from tactical shortcomings or poor player efforts.

"It’s purely tactical, in my opinion. I’ve always believed that Erik Ten Hag needed a proper sporting structure before we could truly assess him, and that structure was provided this summer with key additions like Omar Berada, [Jason] Wilcox, and [Dan] Ashworth.

"His backroom staff was also strengthened with the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Yet the same tactical flaws from last season persist, particularly in terms of the team’s performance when out of possession."

Manfred noted that United was completely passive without the ball, a glaring issue that has plagued them since last season.

"Last year, in that 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace, Michael Olise tore them apart with his pace. Today, it was Dejan Kulusevski. There’s no aggression to win the ball back, and the press is disjointed."

He also highlighted defensive inefficiencies, such as with Manuel Ugarte, who failed to cover enough ground and recover possession for the team.

"Ugarte couldn’t cover large spaces or win the ball back consistently, which compounded the tactical flaws today," Manfred added.

In the attack, United’s inefficiencies were equally glaring, he added:

"Even when they had opportunities to break, they lacked the cutting edge to hurt Tottenham effectively. For me, this is a tactical problem."

From Manfred's assessment, it all comes down to tactics - although whether Man United needs a coaching change or a change in approach remains the question.

Fans frustrated with ten Hag's management

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Manchester United fans were frustrated once again with ten Hag after their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Supporters pointed out that despite building a squad mostly himself, the Dutchman has yet to implement a clear and compelling play style.

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Source: YEN.com.gh