‘Ten Hag’s lost more than Solskjaer… it has to be called out, it’s not good enough’: Manchester United boss Erik ‘has nowhere to hide’, says club legend Dwight Yorke, as he questions his league record
- Dwight Yorke has questioned Manchester United’s record under Erik ten Hag
- The Red Devils have lost nine matches in the Premier League so far this season
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost fewer games in each of his two full years in charge
Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke has questioned suggestions that the club has made progress under Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils have improved on their league position this season following the dismal ending to the last campaign, but are sweating on their place in the top four following back-to-back defeats against Brighton and West Ham.
Ten Hag’s side won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final but have not been able to mount a title challenge this season having lost nine times in the league.
Yorke, as reported by the Evening Standard, has pointed out that they have suffered more defeats this season than they did under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his two full seasons in charge (eight in 2019-20 and six in 2020-21).
The 1999 Treble winner, who was team mates with Solskjaer, insists United’s results this season have ‘not been good enough’ and Ten Hag should ‘be called out’.
Dwight Yorke has questioned how much progress Manchester United have actually made under Erik ten Hag this season
Erik ten Hag’s side have lost more games and are set for a lower league finish than United achieved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the Norwegian’s two full seasons in charge
He said: ‘Erik ten Hag losing nine games in the Premier League does raise some issues.
‘If you are a Manchester United manager, you will always be scrutinised for little details or mistakes. There’s nowhere to hide.
‘Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a better record than Ten Hag in his full two seasons managing the club, people talk about the progress we’ve made and the better style of football being played.
‘Manchester United have reached the FA Cup final, won the Carabao Cup and made it far in the Europa League so that is progress, but Ten Hag losing more Premier League games than Solskjaer in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons has to be called out.
‘The results have not been good enough this season, Manchester United are looking over their shoulder and are desperately trying to hold onto fourth place, I’m not sure that’s where the club wants to be.
‘Ten Hag gets the praise when the team is playing well, he has to take the criticism when it goes wrong too.’
Solskjaer faced heavy criticism towards the end of his time at Old Trafford.
In his first two full seasons, he guided United to third and second place but failed to deliver a trophy having lost the 2021 Europa League final to Villarreal.
He was sacked in November 2021 after taking just 17 points from their opening 12 games of the 2021-22 season – suffering heavy defeats to Liverpool (5-0) and Watford (4-1) in that time.
United only have a one-point advantage over Liverpool in the race for the top four but they do have a game in hand over their biggest rivals.
Solskjaer (centre) and Yorke (second from right) were team mates at Old Trafford
Ten Hag’s side won the Carabao Cup and are in the final of the FA Cup but are facing pressure from Liverpool in the race to finish inside the top four
They also have the FA Cup final to look forward to against local rivals Man City.
However, results such as their 7-0 loss to Liverpool, their Europa League exit to mid-table LaLiga side Sevilla, and 1-0 defeats to Brighton and West Ham show there is still a lot of work to be done at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag’s men are 19 points off league leaders Man City. Solskjaer in his first full season had a massive 33-point deficit to Liverpool but managed to cut that to 12 to Man City in his second season.
United are expected to have a busy transfer window, with Tottenham striker Harry Kane one of many players linked with a move to the club this summer.
