Erik ten Hag acknowledged that his team’s performance was appalling during Monday’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Crystal Palace, but he insisted that he is still the best choice to improve Manchester United’s situation.
Michael Olise scored twice for Palace, while the in-form Eagles also had goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell to clinch a historic league double over United.
Ten Hag’s team finished eighth after the loss, putting them in danger of having their worst-ever Premier League finish and missing out on European competition the next year.
Read Also:Ten Hag Gives Update On Rashford Return
With structural changes taking place at Old Trafford since British businessman Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority share and assumed sporting control of the team earlier this year, the Dutchman’s career is in jeopardy.
“It’s clear and it’s obvious this is under-performing,” said Ten Hag.
“We didn’t act how we want to do it and this is by far not good enough.”
An increasing list of injuries once again restricted Ten Hag’s possibilities.
In addition to Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford, two England internationals, the captain Bruno Fernandes missed his first-ever club match due to injury.
The speed and ingenuity of Palace destroyed the improvised center-back duo of Casemiro and Jonny Evans.
“Absolutely,” added Ten Hag on whether believes he is the right man to lead United forward.
“If we have the right players available we have a good squad but we miss almost the whole back-line and then we have problems.
“I will keep fighting and I prepared the team in the best way I could do.
“It was not good enough, by far not good enough, so I have to take the responsibility for that but I will find the energy and I will prepare them for Sunday.”
Ten Hag’s situation can become worse this weekend when title-chasing Arsenal comes to Old Trafford.
In the Premier League era, United has never failed to place in the top seven, and in order to qualify for Europe, they must either accomplish this or defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
However, Ten Hag’s embarrassing result at Selhurst Park is not unique.
In his debut season as manager, United suffered losses of 4-0 away to Brentford, 6-0 against Liverpool, and 6-3 away to Manchester City.
Their total goals conceded this season (81 across all competitions) is the lowest for the club since 1976–1977.
Ten Hag has found some respite following his unfortunate early eliminations from the League Cup and Champions League thanks to an FA Cup run.
However, they had to survive a penalty shootout against Coventry, a lower division team, after down 3-0 to draw 3-3 in order to secure their spot in their second straight final.
The appointments made by Ratcliffe’s INEOS group are already starting to reverse a decade of decline at the 20-time English champions.
The club has appointed Jason Wilcox as its new technical director, and Dan Ashworth of Newcastle has been eyed to take over as its sporting director.