Plus: Alexis Mac Allister is the gift that keeps on giving for Liverpool; is time running out for relegation favourites Sheffield Utd? can Arsenal’s stalwart defence be their best form of attack? are Man City better with Phil Foden and not Erling Haaland leading the line?Before Manchester United produced the latest-ever collapse in Premier League history at Chelsea, days after losing a lead in stoppage-time at Brentford, Erik ten Hag appeared to tell Sir Jim Ratcliffe and
INEOS not to interrupt his progress at Old Trafford. Although he did not mention his new bosses by name, it is hard to see who else his words were aimed at. “We are in a good way, a good direction and we need to make the next steps,” he said. “Don’t interrupt this process.
For the final half an hour at Stamford Bridge, until Cole Palmer’s late interventions, Ten Hag on the face of things was delivering on his comments. Had United held on to win, or even draw, it would have only kicked the can further down the road though.
Ten Hag’s side are perennially stretched. He says his players should have done their jobs after chaos ensued. You do have to question though why time and again they do not seem to be able to. Something is not right.
Chelsea had 28 shots on Thursday. Brentford had 31 on Saturday. Liverpool had 25 shots before the international break. Ten Hag’s system is demanding so much of a group of players that do not suit his high-octane approach.
The Dutchman may need time and another overhaul to achieve the goal he set out earlier this week. His problem, however, is that INEOS may not be so patient. Especially if defeats of this manner continue in the final weeks of the season.
