Manchester United resemble a team ‘reaching the end of a cycle’ rather than making any progress under Erik ten Hag, according to Jamie Carragher.
Although United have won three consecutive matches against Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen, they have looked far from convincing.
Ten Hag’s side will face an acid test of whether they are actually moving forwards when Manchester City visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
Former Liverpool defender Carragher believes United are in ‘an unfulfilling holding pattern’ and are surviving game-by-game by grinding out results.
Carragher sees no discernible change in United’s style under Ten Hag from the days when Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were in charge.
Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United resemble a team ‘reaching the end of a cycle’ under manager Erik ten Hag, rather than one making progress
United have been poor at times this season and largely unconvincing even when they do win
Carragher believes more could justifiably have been expected from Ten Hag at Old Trafford
He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: ‘I expected United to become a superior version of Ajax when Ten Hag was appointed.
‘Ten Hag enjoyed many exceptional results at his former club, especially in the Champions League, so with a bigger budget and the chance to coach superior players the blueprint seemed obvious.
‘The idea must have been to impose the lauded Dutch model of possession football, otherwise what was the point of headhunting him?
‘United’s board seemed to be recognising that the least their fans expect is to be front-footed and exciting.
‘No-one was demanding Ten Hag create a title winning side in one or even two years, but it was reasonable to assume the United line-up would be clearly distinguishable from the tactical set-up of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.
‘The most damning criticism is that they are not. Their game plan is virtually identical.’
Carragher says Ten Hag is running out of time and excuses because £400million has been spent on players he wanted since the summer of 2022.
Indeed, he argues that the Dutch coach has ‘too much power and control over the club’s transfer policy because the recruitment has been so poor.’
United have gambled £72million on young striker Rasmus Hojlund to provide their goals
United were indebted to goalkeeper Andre Onana for his penalty save against Copenhagen
Ten Hag guided United to a third-place finish in the Premier League during his first season in charge – returning them to the Champions League – and they also won the Carabao Cup to end a six-season trophy wait.
However, despite spending big on Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana over the summer, United appear to have regressed.
They have already suffered four league defeats this season and lost their first two Champions League games before Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Copenhagen.
Even that required a last-gasp penalty save from Onana to preserve all three points after Harry Maguire headed United in front.
