The Dutchman has done a lot of lowering of expectations at Old Trafford, but there can be no excuses if his side do not beat the sorry Saints
Tottenham fans used to sing that Mauricio Pochettino was magic, but Erik ten Hag has been very keen to point out that he is not. "It's not like I'm Harry Potter and that is what you have to acknowledge," the Dutchman said after his side's morale-sucking 3-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break.
Pochettino was Ten Hag's closest rival for the Manchester United job in 2022 and was briefly considered as a potential successor when the Dutchman's future was in serious doubt last season. The Argentine had a sense of mystique about him and could have offered a more hopeful vision than Ten Hag, but that ship has sailed now as Pochettino has since been named as coach of the United States.
For now, the Red Devils have little choice but to keep faith with Ten Hag and trust that he can turn things around after another dismal start to the season. He has done a lot of lowering of expectations as United manager, such as saying his side could not play like his thrilling Ajax or ruling out their chances of challenging for the title.
Ten Hag's declaration that he is not Harry Potter, no miracle worker, is the latest example. So it is a good thing that United's next opponents are Southampton, the worst team in the Premier League. No magic wand should be required to get three points at St Mary's on Saturday, and thus if United cannot get a win, then really serious questions must be asked of their manager.
GettyIdeal opponents
United do not have the best record at Southampton. Sir Alex Ferguson's great side lost on three consecutive trips to their previous stadium, The Dell, during their heyday of the 1990s, and United have only won five of their last 10 visits to St Mary's. But in their current state, the Saints are ideal next opponents for the Red Devils to kickstart their season.
Southampton gained promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking under manager Russel Martin last season and gained plaudits for their attacking style of play. But, rather like Burnley in 2023-24, they have been given a shock on their return to the top-flight. The Saints have lost all three of their matches and their adventurous style has been ruthlessly exploited.
Four of the five goals they have conceded have come from errors playing out from the back, with the other coming from a long throw. They played with a one-man advantage against Newcastle for 62 minutes after Fabian Schar was sent off, had 78 percent possession and 19 shots, and yet still lost 1-0, to a goal gifted by a clumsy pass from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportDying by the sword
Two weeks later, Southampton signed Aaron Ramsdale, who immediately took McCarthy's place for the trip to Brentford. But the former Arsenal favourite had a hapless debut, as he was at fault for each of the opening two goals and was weak for the Bees' third strike, too.
In keeping with the Harry Potter theme, boyhood Saints fan Ramsdale dressed up as Hagrid to watch Southampton in the play-off final against Leeds in May, and then wore the same outfit when he was unveiled as a Saints player in August. He and Trent Alexander-Arnold even used to have 'Harry Potter marathons' while rooming together for England youth internationals.
Southampton are certainly not conjuring any magic at the moment, though boss Martin is intent on sticking to his principles. "I will live and die by the sword, I know that," he said after the defeat at Brentford. "But I'd much rather do it this way and actually enjoy some of the moments the team gives me."
GettyLow expectations
At least Martin is aiming high. Ten Hag's lowering of expectations might be understandable from his point of view, and he has been keen to point out that he inherited a real mess when he took charge of United in 2022, talking of "a no-good culture" among the dressing room.
He has had three summer transfer windows to sort it out and been allowed to spend £587 million ($767m) on new recruits, including £250m ($326m) alone on players he has previously worked with at Ajax.
But he still seems unsatisfied with his situation and before the start of the campaign he claimed United were not ready for the campaign to begin. Ten Hag does think that, with time, things will improve and has asked to be judged at the end of the season, pointing to the fact that his side finished third in 2023 after a horror start and ended the last campaign clutching the FA Cup.
"Just the third game in the season, we have to build a new team. I explained this so many times, we will build it, we have young players and players to build in," he said. "We will be fine. It is clear we have to improve, but at the end of the season I am confident we will have a big chance to lift another trophy."
Getty Ronaldo's rebuke
Ten Hag's low bar, and the fact he ruled United out of the title race for this season as early as last April, has been questioned by Cristiano Ronaldo, who had a fractious relationship with the manager in their four months together at Old Trafford before the Portuguese left United.
"If you are Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the league or Champions League," Ronaldo told his former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand. "You have to say 'listen maybe we do not have that potential' but you cannot say that. You have to try. This club needs time to rebuild because it's still one of the best clubs, but they need to change and they understand that it's the only way."
There was also a little jibe at Ten Hag's biggest achievements with United, the Carabao Cup triumph in his first season and lifting the FA Cup last season, from the Al-Nassr forward, as he added: "They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete, it will be impossible. They can do good things, yes, they can win the Carabao Cup, but I mean the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League (are) difficult. I wish that I'm wrong, but it will be difficult."