Manchester United endured a disheartening 2-0 defeat against West Ham United, adding further strain to the embattled manager Erik ten Hag on Saturday. The loss came with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, intensifying the mounting pressure on Ten Hag amid a tumultuous season for the Red Devils.
The clash at the London Stadium saw West Ham dominate, leaving Ten Hag’s side reeling from their eighth Premier League defeat this season. With just one win in their last seven games across competitions, United has been struggling to find their form, notably failing to score in their last four matches – a feat last seen in 1992.
The loss against West Ham compounds the woes for Ten Hag, whose tenure faces increased scrutiny. With the imminent arrival of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, set to acquire 25 percent ownership of the club, Ten Hag’s job security appears increasingly precarious. Ratcliffe is reportedly poised to take charge of United’s football operations, arriving at a time when the club is grappling with one of its lowest points in history.
The season’s challenges for Ten Hag have been exacerbated by early exits from Europe, finishing bottom in their Champions League group, and crashing out of the League Cup.
Though Ten Hag remains optimistic about the return of key players from injury, the team’s lackluster performance against West Ham underscores the depth of United’s struggles under the beleaguered Dutch manager.
With 13 losses in all competitions this season, United’s predicament represents their most defeats before Christmas since the 1930-31 season, highlighting the severe downturn the club is experiencing.
In a match where United looked disjointed and out of sync, despite the absence of key defensive players like Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Raphael Varane, the young Willy Kambwala made his debut in central defence.
West Ham capitalized on United’s vulnerability, with Bowen and Kudus scoring late in the game, securing a vital win for the home side and deepening the crisis for the Red Devils.