Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says Manchester United used to have a plan under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but are “lacking something” under Erik ten Hag.
The Manchester United manager is under mounting pressure to keep his job after a difficult season at Old Trafford, with several reports suggesting Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not convinced by the Dutch coach.
It is funny how football works. This time last year, bald was best and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind about the manager.
Ten Hag needs results and fans are beginning to demand better performances.
Fabregas, a World Cup and Premier League winner, has analysed United’s recent performances and claims the team is lacking something (key players through injury?).
“I have to say as well that I don’t know the numbers, but with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] there was some good big games,” Fabregas told the Planet Premier League podcast.
“They used to have a structure, they had the plan. At least you saw a plan, which was defend well and have great breaks and this is exactly what Manchester United don’t have at the moment.
“It’s not good to analyse only one game, but in the same way there is the perception that Manchester City are still very strong even if the numbers don’t agree or don’t say the same thing. With Manchester United, I don’t have the perception that they are a solid team at the moment.
“Looking carefully at the counters that Fulham did to them and the way they were done, it makes the alarm bells go for a very, very long period of time.
“It cannot happen that a top, top team gets done on the counter so many times in one half, or over 60 minutes. And this shows that they are lacking something.
“I don’t know his gameplan, I don’t know if he has structure, I don’t know what his message is.
“But, definitely if these happen to my team, there would be a lot of alarm bells going on.”
Injuries have made life harder for Ten Hag this season, with key players like Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez currently ruled out of action.
There are just 12 games remaining in the league this season, with Ten Hag facing a critical period to demonstrate his capabilities to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co.
United take on Man City at the Etihad on Sunday.
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