‘Ten Hach has done it again’…tearing off a decade-long victory amulet in a ‘disgraceful defeat’
A record of glory that has eluded even the most successful managers has been shattered under Eric ten Haag.
Manchester United lost 1-3 to Manchester City in the 27th round of the 2023-24 English Premier League at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Thursday (Jan. 4).
It was an upset. Manchester United, who were outclassed by City in many areas, including power and momentum, took control of the game. After dropping back and looking to counter-attack from the kickoff, United opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a Marcus Rashford strike from mid-range.
Manchester United’s approach continued to work. The counterattack was fierce, utilizing Rashford, with goalkeeper Andre Onana making saves. In the 23rd minute, Rashford again threatened Manchester City as he rushed forward. The video assistant referee (VAR) disallowed the foul, but Rashford’s aggression took the wind out of City’s sails.
They held on for the entire first half. They went into halftime with a 1-0 lead. The record sounded good. Manchester United hadn’t lost a game with a first-half lead since 2014.
Going back to a 5-3 win over Leicester City under Louis van Gaal, United had won 123 and drawn 20 of the 143 matches in which they had led at half-time, according to soccer statistics outlet Opta. No matter how difficult the opponent, as long as the Red Devils can get off to a flying start, they’ve done their job.
They went into the second half full of confidence, but a decade-long run of good form was shattered. United conceded the equalizer through Phil Foden less than 10 minutes after the restart. Manchester City continued to rotate their strikers in an attempt to keep the momentum going, and United responded by defending. They took off Jonny Evans and brought on Willy Kambwala to shake up the defense.
But in the 35th minute, they conceded again to Foden. With their momentum gone, United were unable to mount any sort of comeback. They kept getting beaten, and Elling Holland scored the winner in stoppage time. A 1-3 defeat. It was a moment that shattered a decade-long talisman of never losing at halftime.
Manchester United fans are saying, “I knew it. “Manchester United fans are saying ‘Ten Haag has done it again’ after losing to Manchester City,” said British media outlet The Sun. “The defeat is something Manchester United hasn’t experienced in 10 years. “The defeat is something Manchester United hasn’t experienced in a decade, and the fans are deeply saddened by this long-standing record.
Van Gaal is in his second year at the helm and has shown poor leadership. He showed promise last season when he led United back to the UEFA Champions League. However, keeping the big six has been a challenge this season with Mourinho having full control over player recruitment. They have struggled to close the gap on the teams at the top of the table.
Manchester United fans, who had begun to lose hope in Van Gaal, began to express disappointment: ‘Another poor result, another record. What will he do next week?”, they began to express their 메이저사이트 disappointment.
The Mirror reported: “Red flags have been raised after Van Gaal’s defeat to Manchester City. A sacking is looming. New owner Jim Ratcliffe is unlikely to be happy with the current results.”
The media outlet added: “Van Gaal signed a three-year contract with Manchester United until 2022. There are currently no discussions about an extension. Ratcliffe is watching Van Gaal’s performances. He has big ambitions and wants to take Manchester United back to being a title contender.”
Another British publication, Team Talk, also reported that “Van Gaal’s departure is fast approaching. Our understanding is that he is effectively a walking ‘dead man walking’ at Old Trafford,” implying a loss of presence.
The Dutch ‘Telegraaf’ from Van Gaal’s home country also said: “Van Gaal doesn’t know how to play at Manchester United. Manchester United football is not worth watching at the moment. I’m sure he will leave the team now.”