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Copenhagen, Denmark. 08th Nov, 2023. 231108 Head coach Erik ten Hag of Manchester United looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League football match between FC Copenhagen and Manchester United on November 8, 2023 in Copenhagen.

Comparing Man Utd’s record under Ten Hag in 2023-24 to the final days of Moyes, Mourinho and Solskjaer

Erik ten Hag is coming under increasing pressure at Manchester United. They’ve made a dismal start to the 2023-24 campaign and the feeling around the club is reminiscent of the latter days of his predecessors Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho and David Moyes.

The Dutch tactician has credit in the bank after leading the Red Devils to the League Cup last season, ending a six-year trophy drought, while getting them back into the Champions League with a respectable third-place finish.

However, things have taken a discernible downward turn since that high point at Wembley in February. The Red Devils have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season and have lost more matches than they’ve won in all competitions.

They were well beaten by Manchester City and suffered another 3-0 loss as a heavily-rotated Newcastle XI outclassed them at Old Trafford.

They’re now out of the League Cup, six points off the top four in the Premier League, and their hopes of qualifying from their Champions League group remain in doubt after losses to Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.

“I still don’t think that there’s that much pressure on him. I think he’s had a good year and he’s bought a bit of time in that respect,” United legend Paul Scholes told TNT Sports following the 4-3 defeat away to Copenhagen.

“He’s had bad injuries but as you say, nine defeats in 17 games is not good enough.

“I know managers have been sacked in that second or third year. I don’t think we can afford to do it anymore, we’ve got to let this fella get on with it.

“I think he’s been good up until this point and I go on to this season, I know it’s not been that great but he’s got a bit unlucky tonight.

“They’re going to have to play better teams than Copenhagen but I thought there was a little bit of fight there tonight, just lacking still that bit of leadership. Maybe if a Casemiro was in there things might be different.”

 

We’ve taken a closer look at how Manchester United’s record this season compares to the last three times the club hierarchy made the decision to get rid of a permanent manager mid-season – 2021-22 under Solskjaer (sacked in November), 2018-19 under Mourinho (sacked in December) and 2013-14 under Moyes (sacked in April).

Erik ten Hag (2023-24)

Played: 17
Won: 8
Drawn: 0
Lost: 9

Goals for: 24
Goals against: 30
Clean sheets: 5

Win rate: 47%
Loss rate: 53%

Goals per game: 1.41
Goals against per game: 1.76

READ: 10 shocking stats behind Man Utd’s historically bad start to the 2023-24 season

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2020-21)

Played: 17
Won: 7
Drawn: 3
Lost: 7

Goals for: 28
Goals against: 29
Clean sheets: 2

Win rate: 41%
Loss rate: 41%

Goals per game: 1.64
Goals against per game: 1.70

Jose Mourinho (2018-19)

Played: 24
Won: 10
Drawn: 6
Lost: 8

Goals for: 38
Goals against: 35
Clean sheets: 5

Win rate: 41%
Loss rate: 33%

Goals per game: 1.58
Goals against per game: 1.45

David Moyes (2013-14)

Played: 51
Won: 26
Drawn: 10
Lost: 15

Goals for: 86
Goals against: 54
Clean sheets: 21

Win rate: 50.9%
Loss rate: 29.4%

Goals per game: 1.68
Goals against per game: 94%


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