Former Liverpool and Manchester United forward Michael Owen has called for Erik ten Hag to be sacked from his role at Old Trafford after defeat to Man City.
Pressure continues to grow on Erik ten Hag after Manchester United’s loss to Manchester City.
Former Liverpool man Michael Owen has called for Erik ten Hag to be relieved of his duties at Manchester United following the loss to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side moved to within one point of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.
The Red Devils took the lead in the opening stages of the Manchester derby, thanks to a stunning effort from England international Marcus Rashford. However, City would go on to dominate the vast majority of the fixture with 73 percent possession, and a quick-fire Phil Foden brace handed last season’s treble winners the lead.
Erling Haaland went on to make up for an earlier error in the first half by adding a third, giving Manchester City a vital win in the title race ahead of the decisive clash against Liverpool next weekend. While most attention will be focused on the upcoming game at Anfield and the implications it will have on the title race, former Liverpool and United forward Owen has shifted focus back to Old Trafford by calling for a change of managers.
Ten Hag has been in charge of the club since 2022 but is under a growing amount of pressure after crashing out of the Champions League in the group stages and seeing his side dwell in sixth place in the top flight of English football. “I said it a couple of months ago, I think they should” said Owen about the possibility of sacking Ten Hag, speaking to Premier League Productions (via HITC).
“Not all the manager’s fault, of course not. The players go out and play. His signings have been pretty average. I still watch Manchester United and I have no idea what they want to do, at all.
“If someone says to me, who doesn’t watch football, what type of team are Manchester City, I would go ‘oh, they are a ball-playing team and they love attacking’. Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa. I can have an opinion on every single (one of those teams).
“When someone says ‘what are Man United?’ I would go ‘I don’t know’. Are they a possession-based team? Counter-attacking? Sit back? Rubbish team? An average team? I genuinely don’t. That has to come from the top, the manager and how we are going to play a certain way.
“I just don’t see what that direction is. If they go to Man City, play open attacking football, five or six great moves and lose 6-2, then that’s their print now. Okay, they aren’t good enough because of certain players, but that’s how we are going to play. Exactly (like Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham).”
