Give Erik ten Hag another season, urges ex-Manchester United defender Lee Martin
Lee Martin disagrees with Teddy Sheringham over what Manchester United should do with Erik ten Hag (main image).
Sheringham feels United should sack ten Hag, but Martin believes he should get another season. Martin and Sheringham were in Malaysia last week to play in the Battle of the Reds match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil between former Manchester United and Liverpool players.
Ten Hag, who is into his second season at the club, has been under fire, as United will not qualify for next season’s Champions League.
United is currently sixth in the table with 54 points from 34 matches, 13 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, which has played 35 games. On Saturday, Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw against Burnley.
“Looking at the last six months and seeing where the team and where the manager is, it doesn’t look good,” said Lee, best remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 1990 FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace.
“But if we give him another year, there will be money to spend. If you think about it, ten Hag hasn’t been able to field his best players (due to injuries).
“With the players regaining fitness over the summer and a few additions, things could turn around. That’s what I’m hoping happens.”
Martin added that United performed well in ten Hag’s debut season, which saw the club lift the League Cup last year. It has also qualified for next month’s FA Cup against Manchester City.
The ability to reach finals and the possibility of adding more silverware is why Martin thinks the Dutchman should stay another season, especially as United will qualify for the Europa League if it remains sixth.
“We were flying last year. (Marcus) Rashford was on fire but is quiet this season. If we can get him firing again, and (Lisandro) Martinez and (Luke) Shaw fit, there is something to build on,” said Martin.
“I’m still with ten Hag at the moment. We should give him another season to prove his worth.”
Sheringham, however, disagreed with Martin.
“I said it before and I will say it again, ten Hag is not good enough to be United’s manager,” said the former England striker.
“He has had countless opportunities to get things right at the club. The players aren’t responding to him.
“They are not consistent, and that is down to the manager. He needs to go.”
Martin and Sheringham spoke at a meet-the-fan session at a Kuala Lumpur mall last week. They were joined by former Liverpool players Emile Heskey and Djibril Cisse.
In the match played on April 27, Liverpool Reds won 4-2, thanks to a Cisse hattrick and another from Florent Sinama.
Manchester Reds scored via Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Webber.
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