Statistics make it clear that United have problems with Ten Hag

Manchester United, the 20-time English champions, are looking for their sixth manager since Alex Ferguson resigned in 2013 after announcing his sacking. Erik ten Hag.

Here are the statistics that show how bad the situation got under Ten Hag and it needs to change.

This month’s international break gave teams a chance to assess how the campaign started and it didn’t go well for United. In seven games, the Red Devils have only earned eight points – the fewest of any team in the Premier League at the same time of the season. Ten Hag were in 14th place in the standings at that time and since then the team has maintained a win and loss that keeps United in the same position, 12 behind leaders Manchester City.

Ten Hag’s United finished eighth last season – their worst finish in Premier League history. This was their worst result since the 1989-90 season when they finished in thirteenth place and Alex Ferguson almost lost his job.

Things were no better in Europe for Ten Hag. United finished bottom of their group last year in the Champions League. The team conceded 15 goals in the group stage, the most the club has ever conceded in the first division.

This year United have drawn all three of their games in the revamped Europa League – against FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahçe – to move up to 21st out of 36 teams.

“Attack, attack, attack” is the cry heard at Old Trafford, but the goals did not come under the Ten Hag’s leadership. With eight goals in their first nine games, United are second from bottom in the Premier League just ahead of Crystal Palace and Southampton. Last season United tied for ninth on the Premier League goalscoring list with 57. Since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, United have a goal difference of less than 4, scoring 65 and conceding 69.

United conceded 58 goals last season in the league – the most in the Premier League era – and there are other statistics which underline the Ten Hag’s inability to shape his team’s defence. Since arriving midway through the 2022 season, United have conceded three goals 24 times – more than any manager since Ferguson retired.