Gary Neville believes Manchester United purchased Erik ten Hag time with their 0-0 draw towards Aston Villa, however just isn’t certain how a lot.
United are winless of their final 5 video games in all competitions, with their stalemate at Villa Park the fourth attract that run, having additionally misplaced 3-0 to Tottenham of their final house match.
Ten Hag’s facet have received simply three of their opening 10 matches in all competitions, whereas their eight factors within the league cements their worst-ever begin to a Premier League season.
Solely Nineteenth-place Southampton (4) have netted fewer targets than United (5) within the competitors thus far, whereas solely in 1972-73 (4) have the Crimson Devils ever netted fewer of their first seven matches of a top-flight marketing campaign.
In opposition to a Villa facet who beat Bayern Munich of their final outing earlier than this assembly, a draw could possibly be seen as a very good outcome, however Neville believes that reveals the “low bar” the workforce is presently working with.
“It’s a small step ahead,” Neville instructed Sky Sports activities. “Earlier than the sport, in the event you supplied any Man Utd fan, participant or coach a draw, then they might have snapped your hand off.
“That’s the place, on the finish of the sport, whenever you see Erik ten Hag’s interview, there’s a component of aid as a result of it retains the wolves at bay for a few weeks not less than. It provides them a bit of bit extra time.
“I don’t suppose anyone who thought a serious incident would occur after the sport thought it will occur with a draw. They all the time thought it will must be a tough day or tough defeat prefer it was final week towards Tottenham. I believe it buys Ten Hag a bit of little bit of time.
“It’s Manchester United’s worst begin in Premier League historical past so we will’t have fun. Once we’re pondering it’s a good level whenever you draw at Villa, it tells you ways far Villa have come – however it additionally tells you ways low the bar is for United on this second in time.”
Stalemate at Villa Park.#MUFC || #AVLMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2024
Ten Hag, who signed a brand new contract within the low season, continues to insist that he has the backing of the membership’s hierarchy regardless of the less-than-stellar begin to the marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, the stress is beginning to pile on the supervisor as soon as extra, with United failing to attain in every of their final three Premier League video games, equalling their worst run with out a objective within the competitors underneath the Dutchman (additionally a run of three in each December 2023 and April 2023).
Whereas Neville doesn’t suppose the membership will rush into a call on Ten Hag’s future, he admits they may need to if issues haven’t modified by the November worldwide break.
“The membership did make the choice to maintain Ten Hag in the summertime, so that they received’t need to reverse that call inside the first six or seven video games,” Neville added.
“They’ve simply received to hope [something happens] on this subsequent couple of weeks – by way of perhaps a reset, some pondering time, some planning.
“Manchester United followers, coaches, gamers have talked about this new construction that surrounds Ten Hag, it must go to work fairly shortly within the subsequent few weeks.
“If the subsequent worldwide break comes round and Manchester United are nonetheless in that thirteenth, 14th place within the league, I believe there’s going to be numerous stress.
“The following few weeks are important in ensuring they’ll one way or the other get some momentum for the remainder of the season in order that Ten Hag can preserve his job.”
