Erik Ten Hag has become the first Manchester United manager to lose two opening Premier League matches in a century. The former Ajax manager slumped to another shocking defeat to a newly-promoted side Brentford.
Manchester United’s woes continue as the Red Devils slumped to another shock defeat at the hands of Brentford. The Old Trafford club had lost their opening Premier League encounter against Brighton in front of their home fans a week earlier.
Pascal Gross exploited a shabby and rickety defense line-up and a slippery midfield to score two first-half goals that shot the Seagulls to a historic win.
The Red Devils were expected to put behind a tawdry display against Brighton and get themselves back into the campaign against Brentford – a team making its second appearance in the Premier League after 74 years. The reverse was the case as Brentford followed in the footsteps of their predecessor -Brighton, to bang in quick and dramatic first-half goals to humble Erik Ten Hag.
David De Gea has found himself at the center of criticisms by Man United fans who have the Spaniard for Dasilva’s first strike. David de Gea crumpled to the ground as he tried to save the ball, which immediately slipped off his hand and rolled into the net.
The Spaniard also had a hand in the second goal after passing the ball to Eriksen, who was quickly dispossessed before Jensen fired into the net. Mee headed in a corner kick while Mbeumo scored the fourth goal to complete the route. All goal was scored in the space of 35 minutes in the first half.
Manchester United’s defeat at the hands of Brentford has offset a century-old record. The last time Manchester United lost two consecutive competitive matches was in 1921 under John Chapman. The Red Devils have now lost their seven consecutive competitive away games for the first time since 1936.
New manager Erik Ten Hag will certainly come under intense pressure as his team continues to slip off the pecking order.
Former Manchester United player and popular pundit Gary Neville has made a sarcastic remark and somewhat revolting remark after the 4-0 loss. Gary Neville said, “if the Premier League was to end today, Manchester United would have been relegated.” However, it is too early to write off the 54-year-old former Ajax manager.
Erik Ten Hag boosts an intimidating managerial profile before his Manchester United job. Before his spell in Ajax, Erik Ten Hag came to the limelight when he was appointed the coach of Go Ahead Eagles – an Erste Divisie side in 2012. He led the team to its first-ever promotion in 17 years.
He has also managed Bayern Munich II. He led the team to the Regionalliga Bayern. Ten Hag took up a role as sporting director of Utrecht in 2015. In his time at the club, Utrecht moved up the ranks of the Eredivisie table, finishing 5th and 4th in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 football seasons, respectively.
Ten Hag was appointed Ajax manager in 2017, leading the team to their three Eredivise titles in 2018-2019, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022. He also won the KNVB Cup in the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 football seasons.
The former Dutch defender came into the limelight in his managerial career in the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League when he led Ajax to the semi-finals with a record 4-1 win against defending Champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
So far, Ten Hag has not been able to replicate his intimidating managerial stats with Manchester United. Despite a brilliant preseason outing, Ten Hag’s Manchester United has fallen easily in their two Premier League games so far, conceding six goals and scoring only one goal.
Manchester United battles Liverpool in their next Premier League encounter. The stakes are high. Ten Hag will be expected to put up a better challenge if he must retain his job at the Old Trafford club.
