Manchester United has been making headlines in the football world for all the wrong reasons lately. Erik ten Hag, the team’s manager, has slammed his team’s inconsistency in a recent interview after a disappointing home defeat to Bournemouth. “We are really inconsistent,” he moaned. “I think, as a squad, we are not good enough to be consistent and we have to work as a squad to improve that.” United’s struggles, especially on the road, have been particularly concerning.
In fact, United has consistently failed to defeat any of the Premier League’s current top nine clubs away from home throughout Ten Hag’s tenure. Their away record against the league’s elite teams is particularly dismal, with embarrassing defeats to the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City. Some of these losses have been by significant margins, leaving United fans and pundits bewildered.
Before this bleak winless sequence began, Manchester United set a new Football League record of 29 consecutive away matches without defeat. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who previously managed the team, had leaned heavily on a counterattacking strategy, which brought the team success on big-ticket away days. United claimed three consecutive victories at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium under Solskjaer by sitting back and utilizing the remarkable threat in transition posed by the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
Despite Ten Hag’s aim of turning Manchester United into “the best transitional side in the world,” the team’s defense has been a major issue. They have conceded three or more goals in over half of a 17-game stretch, showing a worrying propensity to collapse on the road.
The most notable example was when United were trounced 7-0 by Liverpool at Anfield. This came just nine months after a 4-0 defeat on the same ground, with former managers expressing embarrassment and disappointment at the team’s performance. The defensive frailty and the lack of a strong foundation for the attacking players to build on have been significant issues for United.
Although the team has spent more than £380m on new players during Ten Hag’s tenure, the problems have persisted. The manager has overseen the permanent purchase of ten new players across his 18 months at the helm. Yet, this investment has not translated to improvements on the pitch, especially in away games.
United’s next daunting away game is at Anfield, the home of their rivals Liverpool. They have struggled in recent years at this venue, scoring only once in eight trips. Add to that Liverpool’s solid record at home, and it doesn’t bode well for United. Jurgen Klopp’s side has been formidable at Anfield this season, making the upcoming match an uphill battle for Manchester United.
With a string of lackluster performances on the road, Ten Hag and his squad have their work cut out to turn the tide and restore some pride to the club. It remains to be seen whether they can overcome their away woes and find a way to compete with the Premier League’s top teams. Until then, the future looks uncertain for Manchester United.
