Gary Neville believes Manchester United purchased Erik ten Hag time with their 0-0 draw in opposition to Aston Villa, however shouldn’t be positive 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 residence match.
Ten Hag’s aspect 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 objectives than United (5) within the competitors up to now, whereas solely in 1972-73 (4) have the Purple Devils ever netted fewer of their first seven matches of a top-flight marketing campaign.
In opposition to a Villa aspect who beat Bayern Munich of their final outing earlier than this assembly, a draw may very well be seen as a very good consequence, however Neville believes that exhibits the “low bar” the staff is presently working with.
“It’s a small step ahead,” Neville instructed Sky Sports activities. “Earlier than the sport, in case you provided any Man Utd fan, participant or coach a draw, then they’d have snapped your hand off.
“That’s the place, on the finish of the sport, once you see Erik ten Hag’s interview, there’s a component of reduction as a result of it retains the wolves at bay for a few weeks no less than. It provides them slightly bit extra time.
“I don’t assume anyone who thought a significant incident would occur after the sport thought it could occur with a draw. They all the time thought it could have to be a tough day or tough defeat prefer it was final week in opposition to Tottenham. I feel it buys Ten Hag slightly little bit of time.
“It’s Manchester United’s worst begin in Premier League historical past so we will’t have fun. After we’re pondering it’s an honest level once you draw at Villa, it tells you the way far Villa have come – however it additionally tells you the way 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 strain 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 below the Dutchman (additionally a run of three in each December 2023 and April 2023).
Whereas Neville doesn’t assume the membership will rush into a choice on Ten Hag’s future, he admits they could 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 rapidly 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 feel there’s going to be quite a lot of strain.
“The following few weeks are essential in ensuring they will someway get some momentum for the remainder of the season in order that Ten Hag can preserve his job.”
