While it’s undeniable that Manchester United remains an unsettled team under Erik ten Hag, there are still many positive aspects that the Dutch coach has brought to Old Trafford.

Although not much, there is still a basis for Man United to trust Erik ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag could point out that the biggest difference for Manchester United this season compared to the previous one is the injury situation.

There have been over 60 different cases of injuries or illnesses among the “Red Devils” players in this campaign. Converted into specific time, that’s 1,300 days.

Especially concerning the defense, where Ten Hag has had to use 13 different center-back pairings this season. In fact, in the last three matches, Casemiro had to reluctantly fill in defensively.

Lisandro Martinez has only appeared in 11 matches, while Luke Shaw has made just 15 appearances. Specifically, Martinez and Shaw have only started together 5 times. Consequently, the left flank of M.U’s defense has been virtually paralyzed for most of the season.

Lisandro Martinez was almost absent for Man United’s entire season.

It’s undeniable that there are issues in how Ten Hag deploys the defense, but with the current personnel, it’s challenging for the Dutch coach to fare better.

Ten Hag could somewhat point out the progress in Manchester United’s attack.

Since the beginning of 2024, they’ve scored 44 goals in 19 matches, averaging 2.3 goals per game. After the 1-1 draw against Burnley, Ten Hag stated that the “Red Devils” are one of the most entertaining teams in the league.

Also, it’s worth noting the turmoil at Old Trafford back in 2022 before Ten Hag arrived. He had to deal with a chaotic dressing room with big egos and lack of discipline. Additionally, there were off-field issues involving Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Antony.

Moreover, the process of becoming the minority owner by Sir Jim Ratcliffe also took a considerable amount of time.

Facing all these challenges, Ten Hag has helped Manchester United reach three domestic cup finals in two years. With the Carabao Cup title in 2023, it was the “Red Devils’” first trophy in over 5 years.

Also, the unexpectedly successful start to the first season set a high standard for Ten Hag. It’s challenging for the Dutch coach to maintain progress, let alone further development in the current season.

Financial constraints also don’t help Ten Hag in building his squad. It’s worth remembering that in January 2023, he was only allowed to bring in Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer on loan deals. Additionally, in last summer’s transfer window, Ten Hag was informed that there wasn’t enough budget to recruit another forward to support Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund (21 years old), Kobbie Mainoo (19 years old), and Alejandro Garnacho (19 years old) have formed the backbone of Manchester United this season. This is a significant positive amidst the numerous negative factors surrounding the club.

Confidence in young players is a big plus for Erik ten Hag

Ratcliffe himself has expressed the view that it’s the off-field structure of Manchester United, rather than the coach, that is the cause of instability. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Old Trafford has rarely been peaceful.

If Ten Hag stays, he will benefit from a new backstage, including CEO Omar Berrada, Technical Director Jason Wilcox, and incoming Sporting Director Dan Ashworth.

However, looking at the reality – Manchester United’s on-field results, it’s very difficult for Ten Hag to stay at Old Trafford after this summer.