Champions League: Week of all dangers for ten Hag and Manchester United

Since his arrival at the club in April 2022, Erik ten Hag has been able to count on his managers to make massive investments during the various transfer windows. With more than 190 million spent this summer on the arrivals of Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund, the Dutch coach has seen his desires satisfied. With, for the moment, sawtooth benefits for new arrivals. Landed from Atalanta, Højlund seems to have been a good pick. If he is currently struggling to make his mark in the Premier League, the Champions League is succeeding for the Danish striker, who has scored three goals in two matches. At only 20 years old, he seems to have the future ahead of him. The complete opposite of André Onana, who has struggled since his arrival. Brilliant at Ajax under the orders of ten Hag then decisive with Inter, he was the choice of the Dutch coach, who wanted a goalkeeper capable of being the first booster of his team. But since his arrival, the Cameroonian seems to have transformed. And not for the better. Guilty of several errors, he has already cost the Red Devils many points. To hope to emerge from this week with their heads held high, Ten Hag will need its recruits to perform at their best level.

Highly anticipated upon his arrival on the Manchester United bench to replace Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag was expected to be the Messiah. The promises were then clear: to apply the playing principles that he had been able to put in place at Ajax Amsterdam. He also brought many of his former players to Manchester: Onana, Martinez and Antony all three left their bags across the Channel. But since then, the promises have given way to reality. Defensively, the Red Devils are struggling to establish a real defensive base. They conceded thirteen goals in the first nine days, ranking twelfth in defense in the Premier League. They therefore have a negative goal average, since the eleventh attack in the English championship has scored 11 times. But what stands out is the inability of the Mancunians to put movement into the game, like the full-backs who do not regularly add enough numbers. If Bruno Fernandes remains a player above the rest in a playmaker position which suits him perfectly, other captain players are in more difficulty, like Marcus Rashford. With only one small goal scored in eleven matches in all competitions, the English will-o'-the-wisp is expected to be at a better level. His awakening this week would be excellent news for the club.

Manchester United have kicked off their European campaign in the worst way possible. First by losing to Bayern by delivering a more than worrying defensive performance (3-4). But above all by losing at home in the last minutes against Galatasaray, on a goal from the returning Mauro Icardi. With zero points taken in two matches and a last place in the group, the men of Ten Hag are obliged to win on Tuesday evening against Rotherham, who obtained the point of a draw against Bayern. In the wake of this crucial meeting, the Reds Devils welcome Manchester City on Sunday. In the event of defeat, they could be relegated to eight points from the qualifying places in the Champions League. A scenario which would further weaken Ten Hag, already in the sights of managers and certain supporters after the defeat against Galatasaray.