Manchester United fans have drawn comparisons between Erik ten Hag’s recent record and Gary Neville’s disastrous Valencia stint following their side’s dismal 3-0 defeat by Tottenham.
United sunk to a fresh low on Sunday night as they were outclassed by Spurs, going a goal down within three minutes and never looking in the game.
Sunday’s result left the Red Devils with just seven points from their first six games in the Premier League this season in what has been a continuation of the poor form that saw them finish eighth last season.
In their last 28 matches under Ten Hag, United have lost 13 while scoring 35 goals and conceding 45 in the process.
That record compares similarly to the club’s former defender Gary Neville’s short spell in charge of Valencia in 2016.
Fans have drawn comparisons between Erik ten Hag’s record and Gary Neville’s Valencia stint
The Red Devils suffered a dismal 3-0 defeat by Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday
Neville lasted less than four months in charge at the LaLiga side after accepting an offer to coach the team from owner and close friend Peter Lim, with the Sky Sports pundit winning just three of his 16 league games in charge.
His disastrous tenure saw his side beaten 7-0 by Barcelona as he lost 11 of his 28 games, with Valencia scoring 39 and conceding 38 in that time.
United were vastly inferior to Tottenham, who should have been more than 1-0 in front by the time Bruno Fernandes was shown a questionable red card for a foul on James Maddison in the 42nd minute.
Having been dominant against United’s 11 men, Spurs continued to boss the contest against 10 as Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke joined Brennan Johnson on the scoresheet at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag was asked about his future following the defeat at Old Trafford and he replied: ‘No, I am not thinking about this.
‘We all made together this decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group in the summer, also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad.
‘But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like Ugarte. Also, we have to make some improvement in organisation, some injuries, we need some time.
‘We are all on one page or in one boat together – the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.’
Ten Hag insisted he doesn’t fear losing his job amid growing pressure after the latest defeat
Ten Hag came close to losing his job at the end of last season after he oversaw United’s lowest finish in Premier League history (eighth) – although he then won the FA Cup.
United’s owners, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, looked for possible replacements before ultimately deciding in July to stick with Ten Hag, whose contract was extended until June 2026.
Ten Hag was also backed in the transfer market this summer, with United bringing in Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.
