Erik ten Hag is under mounting pressure at Manchester United – and a defeat at Villa Park could see a swift decision made on his future.
The Red Devils have lost half of their six Premier League games this season – resulting in them languishing in the bottom half.
Following Tottenham’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford last week, talkSPORT revealed how the Dutchman was safe at least for the next two games.
But a 3-3 draw away at Porto midweek in the Europa League where United led 2-0 has done little to ease concern over the ex-Ajax manager.
And things could go from bad to worse on Sunday when United take on Aston Villa in the Midlands, with Unai Emery’s men in lethal form.
Victory for the Villans, who are coming off the back of a win against Bayern Munich, could lead to Ten Hag‘s axing during the October international break.
It’s something that one United fan would welcome if it means seeing a change in the dugout – much to the agreement of ex-Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant.
Speaking on The Sports Bar, United fan Remi conceded: “I don’t see him lasting too much longer.
“I don’t want my team to lose, but at the same time, if we can rescue the season – it’s only October.”
Former Spurs midfielder and talkSPORT co-host Jamie O’Hara then interjected, offering up a hypothetical question where he asked Remi if he would take a loss at Villa if it guaranteed Ten Hag’s sacking.
Quick to reply, he stated: “Yes, I’ll just be real.”
Hitting back, O’Hara declared: “You’re a disgrace.”
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But Pennant backed Remi’s view, as he remarked: “I’m all for it. I think that’s the right choice, sometimes you’ve got to put your team first.
“And if it means taking a loss, you’ve got to do it.”
In the background, O’Hara echoes his thoughts, where he repeatedly told the supporter he was a ‘disgrace’.
Explaining his decision, Remi said: “If we lose to Villa, which I think we’re going to do anyway, and we can bring in somebody else, who is either going to steady the ship, or get a long-term manager in, yes.”
Remi then went on to claim that Ten Hag has turned United into a cup team, where he sacrifices the Premier League and European competitions in order to achieve FA Cup and Carabao Cup glory – the two trophies he has scooped in his two years at the club.
But it wasn’t just Remi that was alone in his view that he wants United to lose for the greater good, with fellow fan and talkSPORT producer Arg echoing his thoughts.
Speaking in the studio with co-hosts Carlton Cole and Adam Catterall, he disclosed: “Sunday afternoon, I do want Man United to lose, I do.”
West Ham cult hero Cole immediately gasped in disbelief, before shouting out, ‘Shameful, this your team’, while a wide-mouthed Catterall couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Arg continued: “There’s no point in keeping a manager on if we’re just going to be scraping through the whole season.
“It makes no sense for me, personally, I want United to actually be competing for titles, competing for the Champions League, and I can’t see that with Ten Hag.
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“So there’s no reason to keep him on any further, and I think if we lose on Sunday, that international break we should be looking to sack him.
“And if that’s bringing in [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy [United assistant], I think that’s what needs to happen. Short-term pain for long-term success is how I see it.”
