Richard Keys has rubbished claims that Man Utd are ‘in a much better place’ now under Erik ten Hag than they were under his predecessors.
Even by Keys’ standards, this is a startling claim. The Red Devils have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and these results have boosted Liverpool’s top-four hopes.
But you would still have to back United to finish fourth given their upcoming run of home games and that Liverpool realistically need to win all three of their remaining matches to end up in the top four.
Under Ten Hag, Man Utd have produced several worrying performances this season but he has certainly made them a more cohesive unit and he deserves plaudits for helping them win the Carabao Cup.
United are still very much working progress and they will be better next season once Ten Hag is able to replace some unwanted squad players with better quality replacements.
The Red Devils have a chance to do the double this season as they face Man City in the FA Cup final but Keys has argued that the club were better in 2020/21 when they finished second in the Premier League under ex-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
‘All I hear when people talk about Manchester United is ‘they’re in a much better place now’. Really? Much better place than when?’ Keys wrote in his blog.
‘I never thought I’d say this – but better than when Solskjaer finished 2nd? Better than when van Gaal won the FA Cup? Not for me. And I admit that I had some pretty harsh things to say about both men during their time in charge.
‘Are they better than the team Mourinho won two trophies with and took to a 2nd place finish? No. No – they’re not.
‘Ten Hag spent a record £220m last summer – more than United have ever spent in one window – to take them precisely… nowhere.
‘And he’s run out of excuses. There’s only so many times you can blame players for being ‘unprofessional’, or for not ‘sticking to the game plan’. That talk all wears a bit thin in a dressing room after a while.’
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Keys also thinks Ten Hag would ‘buy himself another season’ if he delivers Champions League football.
‘Ten Hag MUST deliver Champions League football. Nothing else will do. If he does – okay – he buys himself another season,’ Keys added.
‘If he doesn’t – a League Cup win won’t be enough for this campaign. There was a time when United fans were embarrassed…
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