- Roy Keane insisted Man United should give Erik ten Hag more time as manager
- Dutchman’s position is under serious pressure after a dismal run of form of late
- Erik ten Hag’s potential replacement needs to beware ‘micro-manager’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Roy Keane has backed Erik ten Hag to remain as Manchester United manager following the club’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal.
After a humiliating 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday Ten Hag was tasked with attempting to turn his injury-stricken side’s fortunes around against the title-chasing Gunners.
Casemiro retained his place in central defence with the club bereft of options in the position and the Brazilian was again caught out whilst playing in an unnatural position.
The 32-year-old failure to play Kai Havertz offside allowed the German to play in Leandro Trossard who summarily netted what proved to be the game’s decisive goal on Sunday.
Speaking following the game Ten Hag insisted that despite United’s current fortunes he is the right man to lead the club forward next season.
Roy Keane insisted Erik ten Hag deserves more time at Man United despite the club’s recent form
Defeat against Arsenal means Ten Hag’s side have now won just two of their last eleven Premier League games
The Dutchman’s assessment of his situation was shared by Keane, who pointed out the successes Ten Hag enjoyed during his maiden campaign after arriving at Old Trafford.
‘I hope he’s given more time and they get to the summer, they can regroup and restructure the club, or whatever that might be,’ Keane said on Sky Sports.
‘There’s huge problems at the club. But I hope he’s given a chance to get things right.
‘Because last year there was some positives, we have to be honest with that.
‘And they have a FA Cup final coming up, and if they manage to beat Man City, it’s going to be very, very difficult, but there’s huge challenges he’s facing, and he’s under huge pressure.’
Former United striker Wayne Rooney joined Keane in backing Ten Hag to remain at the club, but noted that defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final later this month might not be enough to keep him in the role next season.
‘I personally hope they do give them time,’ Rooney said. ‘Because I think there’s a lot of problems. Recruitment is massive, and it hasn’t been good enough throughout the year.
‘So I do think it gets time to do it right. But what we’ve seen before, I was part of [Man United’s team] in the FA Cup final, when we won in 2016 and Louis van Gaal lost the job so you never know.’
The club are currently on course for their worst-ever league placement in the Premier League
But Keane insisted Ten Hag’s success in his maiden season at the club has earned him a chance to ‘get things right’ next season
United are currently eighth in the table, one position worse than David Moyes managed in his only season at Old Trafford in 2013-14.
If the club fail to defeat noisy neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final later this month, they will miss out on European for the first time since Moyes’ disastrous single-season reign a decade ago.
