Erik ten Hag: 5 Things Manchester United Boss Has Gotten Wrong That Proves He Deserves to Be Sacked

• Manchester United were outclassed and beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace
• The result further heaps pressure on the embattled boss, Erik ten Hag
• His future beyond this season looks more uncertain with every match

Erik ten Hag looks increasingly unlikely to be at Manchester United next season with each game, and the 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on May 6 has only compound his woes further.

After a fair first season in charge, his team crumbled. They have relied on luck and individual brilliance to get results this season, but even these waned as the season progressed.

The team had a dismal UEFA Champions League campaign and are at risk of missing out on Europe entirely if they finish eighth and lose the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

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Sports Brief looks at five things the Dutch tactician has gotten wrong at Old Trafford.

Five things ten Hag has gotten wrong

1. Ronaldo and Sancho sagas

The manager has a habit of clashing with players and has sent out two high-profile players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho. He comes off as a disciplinarian, and those two have stood up against him - Ronaldo with an explosive interview and Sancho with a social media statement.

Raphael Varane, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho are other players with whom he had a spat but managed differently, leading to accusations of favouritism by the media and some sections of the fanbase.

2. De Gea's contract situation

David de Gea left the club at the end of last season after 12 years, following the expiration of his £375,000 per week contract. Per Mirror UK, he accepted a new £200,000 per week contract, but the club withdrew the offer on ten Hag’s recommendation.

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The club splashed £50 million on the manager's former goalkeeper, Andre Onana, instead. The Cameroonian’s huge number of goals conceded, 79 in all competitions, made some fans turn on the manager for how he treated a club legend.

3. Transfer decisions

According to Transfermarkt, the manager has spent £382mil on transfers, signing 16 players in his two years at the club. The majority of them have been misses, which questions his talent identification and proves that he should not have a say in transfers.

He sanctioned £70mil for an ageing Casemiro and £58mil for Mason Mount from Chelsea, who has looked out of place in the team. Per The Athletic, the club's scouts valued Antony at £25mil, but he forced the club's hands to sign him for £86mil instead.

Casemiro was good for half a season. Lisandro Martinez, who has been outstanding, has struggled to stay fit. These decisions have done the club and his reputation no good.

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4. Style of play

The 53-year-old was renowned for his exquisite style of football during his time at Ajax, but the football at Manchester United has been unquestionably bad. Two seasons in, he is yet to establish a style of play despite having almost an entire first XI of new players.

5. Results

Football on the pitch is a game of results as it can paper over cracks of other things going on at the club. Fair play to ten Hag: he ended the club's trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup last season, but he has guided the team to be on the receiving end of some bad score lines, including a 7-0 loss to Liverpool.

Managers who could replace ten Hag

Sports Brief previously analysed five managers who could replace ten Hag at United if Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to part ways with him despite a year left on his contract.

The British billionaire bought a minority stake in the English club and took over football operations from the Glazers. He is already bringing many changes to the board.