Carragher criticizes Ten Hag's decisions in Man Utd's Aston Villa match
- Manchester United's poor start to the season has led to increased scrutiny on manager Erik ten Hag.
- Ten Hag's decision to bench key defenders during a match against Aston Villa was met with skepticism from commentators.
- The pressure on Ten Hag is mounting, with speculation about his future amid the club's struggles.
In England, Manchester United faced scrutiny following their poor performance in the early part of the season, winning only three of their first nine matches. The situation intensified when manager Erik ten Hag benched key defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez during a match against Aston Villa. Ten Hag claimed this decision was due to rotation, but former players and commentators, including Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand, questioned this explanation, suggesting the players were dropped instead. The mounting pressure on Ten Hag was further exacerbated by the presence of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the match, who refrained from publicly supporting the manager. Ratcliffe emphasized that decisions regarding the team's management were in the hands of the newly appointed leadership, which has only been in place for a short time. He acknowledged the need for the club to improve its performance and return to its former glory, highlighting the significant challenges facing Manchester United and the urgency for change within the organization.