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Exclusive: Ten Hag’s Stance on Dropping Fernandes from Man Utd’s Starting Lineup

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Exclusive: Ten Hag’s Stance on Dropping Fernandes from Man Utd’s Starting Lineup

Bruno Fernandes is starting to attract criticism from supporters who feel he should be dropped from the starting line-up, but sources close to Manchester United are indicating to GIVEMESPORT that it is unlikely to happen.

Fernandes, 30, is supposed to be one of the man talismen at Old Trafford but has not weighed in with any goals so far this season and has just one assist in the Premier League. Focus around his drop-off in form comes at a time when manager Erik Ten Hag is beginning to feel new pressure around his position at the club, yet whether the boss is willing to drop his captain remains doubtful.

United have failed to win either of their last two matches and now head into a clash with Tottenham at the weekend in need of a performance that leads to the side taking their chances. One of Manchester United’s biggest fears has been that they would make a decision to keep Ten Hag as manager, but still be faced with a new rising to sack him just months into a new season.

We are not quite there yet but the clouds are starting to gather over Old Trafford and if another storm begins, it would be difficult to see how he gets out alive this time. There is no hiding from the fact last season’s FA Cup final win helped save him from the chop at Old Trafford. The process of sounding out other managers had begun and and it seemed a case of when – not if – he would lose his job, as they conducted a review of his position. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo scored the goals at Wembley that ultimately saw their boss dodge a bullet but we are now five months on from that moment and there is little sign of real progress.

Erik Ten Hag Under Pressure

Back-to-back draws against Crystal Palace and FC Twente have put Ten Hag under the spotlight. United are mid-table in the Premier League with a goal difference of zero and they have failed to win their opening European fixture. This is not a disaster but they can not score enough goals regularly and are already six points adrift of the top teams in the division.

A clause has been triggered in Ten Hag’s contract that means he is tied to United until 2026 but the fact no commitment was made beyond that shows there was still some level of skepticism to how this would all work out. His task is to now move beyond this stale week and find a way to get his frontline firing. The inconsistency of United has been a problem in terms of turning this team into Champions League material.

Last season their biggest win streak was five matches, while there were two periods where they won three in a row. This season the successes over Barnsley and Southampton is as good as we have seen in terms of a winning pattern and now they face Tottenham, FC Porto and Aston Villa.

GIVEMESPORT key statistic: Manchester United have won just six of their last 19 Premier League games, and just one of their last nine European fixtures after draws against Crystal Palace and FC Twente in the last week.

Sources say that one of the problems that could really hurt Ten Hag is in-game management. Decisions in this sense have seemed to cause issues. Against Palace, United were in the ascendancy for most of the game but his changes in the second half led to a drop off rather than pick-me-up. There were similar problems on Wednesday night as United controlled possession, showed patience but then – after gaining a one-goal lead – failed to put their foot down and kill off the game against Twente.

Ten Hag’s response post-game is often to show credit to the opponents for their performance but selection decisions are going to come under scrutiny in the coming games and there are a couple of key figures central to that. Christian Eriksen has become a favourite of the manager since the international break and his inclusion is in line with Ten Hag trying to create a more compact team. Eriksen looked in disbelief when he realised he was being taken off after 79 minutes against FC Twente – and this is part of the problem they now have.

He was expected to be sold in the summer but has now been played to a point where he feels he is so important to Ten Hag that he will not be replaced – and then when he is, he is surprised and even, perhaps, annoyed. This was Eriksen’s fourth start in a row for United and there is no doubt his levels have been good through this period.

Maybe part of that dismay is attached to the fact he can look across the field and see Fernandes seems untouchable.

The captain, who signed a new three-year contract worth £375,000-per-week last month, has played almost every minute of their Premier League campaign so far and completed the entire game against Twente. But his performances are considered to be below par and there has been some concern about his drop off in terms of key passes and game-opening moments.

He is yet to score this season and his approach play and set pieces have not impressed. Sources believe Ten Hag is close to having a decision to make on leaving him out of the starting XI. Quite when that moment will actually come is unclear, as pressure is rising, but Ten Hag is unlikely to risk upsetting his skipper around big fixtures.

No other player seems to be undroppable, though, so why not Fernandes? Marcus Rashford was left out of the team against Crystal Palace after he found goalscoring form and then, when looking like United’s best route to a winning goal against Twente on Tuesday, he was taken off with 11 minutes left to play.

Fernandes Statistics vs Twente

Minutes Played

90

Touches

76

Key Passes

1

Successful Dribbles

2/5 (40%)

Accurate Passes

39/52 (75%)

Possession Lost

19

Shots

3

There has been some surprise that Eriksen and Fernandes are playing so frequently in the same side as the identity of this team was not supposed to be heading in such a direction. Manuel Ugarte was signed as a Kobbie Mainoo partner and while that can not always be the set-up in midfield, that had been expected to become the regular sight.

Selection dilemmas are part and parcel of his job but Ten Hag needs to find the right combinations that will keep United at a high level across a prolonged period of time.

Sources have indicated previously that Ten Hag has no guarantees over his future being secure for the entirety of this season and past managers Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both lost their jobs before Christmas.

Finding an identity and showing a convincing level of deserved victories is in order if Ten Hag is to avoid any serious danger of being in the firing line once again.

And if Fernandes remains in the starting line-up, he needs to deliver for his boss very soon.

 

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BREAKING NEWS:”I assure you that I will find the right person for this role before I leave. We aim to implement significant changes this year. Erik ten Hag is not the right fit for this position. The ideal candidate has been here before and holds the key to solving all our issues.”

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BREAKING NEWS:”I assure you that I will find the right person for this role before I leave. We aim to implement significant changes this year. Erik ten Hag is not the right fit for this position. The ideal candidate has been here before and holds the key to solving all our issues.”

Manchester United are reportedly considering reopening talks with a former managerial candidate if Erik ten Hag’s tenure as manager comes to an end. The Dutchman has faced increasing pressure following several disappointing results, including a 3-0 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford.

This defeat, along with a 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League after blowing a two-goal lead, has raised questions about Ten Hag’s ability to lead the team.

According to The Athletic, Manchester United’s leadership is adopting a “long-term view” regarding Ten Hag’s future, meaning he might not be dismissed even if the club loses their next Premier League match against Aston Villa. However, over the summer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United’s minority co-owner, and his INEOS representatives held talks with several potential replacements for Ten Hag.

Although Ten Hag’s position seemed secure after United’s FA Cup win, the club may now revisit those discussions due to the team’s current poor form.

One candidate reportedly approached over the summer was Thomas Tuchel, who has previously managed Chelsea and Bayern Munich. However, Tuchel declined the offer because of concerns about the internal power structure at Manchester United.

With Ten Hag’s position in jeopardy, the club may consider reaching out to Tuchel again, as he is currently without a team. Despite Tuchel’s impressive managerial credentials, it remains uncertain whether he would be willing to reconsider the role.

Other managerial candidates reportedly under consideration include Graham Potter, former Brighton and Chelsea manager, and Gareth Southgate, the current England manager. Both are known for their strong player development skills, attributes that Sir Jim Ratcliffe finds appealing.

Additionally, Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has been linked to the job, though he recently rejected an approach from United, preferring to stay at Inter after leading them to the Champions League final. Brentford manager Thomas Frank has also been discussed as a possible successor to Ten Hag, admired for his tactical approach and ability to maximize team performance.

Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United’s assistant coach, remains the bookmakers’ favorite to replace Ten Hag if he is dismissed. Van Nistelrooy’s deep knowledge of the club and his recent success at PSV Eindhoven make him a strong internal candidate.

Ultimately, United’s leadership will need to decide whether to promote from within or seek a more experienced manager to guide the team forward.

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BREAKING NEWS: New Man United Coach Thomas Tuchel has ask for ask the board to bring His best player at Chelsea to Old Trafford

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BREAKING NEWS: New Man United Coach Thomas Tuchel has ask for ask the board to bring His best player at Chelsea to Old Trafford

Chelsea have offered Ben Chilwell to Man united as they aim to further trim their wage bill, it has been claimed.

England defender Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2020, playing more than 100 first-team games during an injury-hit four years in West London. The 27-year-old signed a contract extension towards the end of the 2022-23 season, with his current deal running until the summer of 2027.

Since signing that deal, though, two changes of manager have left him down the pecking order. Current boss Enzo Maresca has been brutally honest with the left-back, who barely featured in pre-season and has been told he will struggle for minutes without a move.

A transfer to Premier League rivals United is among the possibilities explored, though it’s far from straightforward. Erik ten Hag’s side are currently without injured duo Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, which may explain Chelsea’s approach.

According to talkSPORT, United have been offered the chance to sign Chilwell and Chelsea would not stand in the way of a move. He wasn’t part of the squad chosen by Maresca to face Manchester City on Sunday, with Marc Cucurella starting at left-back.

“With Chilly it’s quite clear,” Maresca said in the lead-up to the Premier League opener. “I love the way he trains, I love the way he is but the problem is that he struggles with us a little bit to find his best position.

“When you train everyday and you don’t get minutes, it’s not good for them and it’s not good for me because I need to make decisions. For some players, it’s sometimes better to leave and to go somewhere to get minutes. We will see what happens, the transfer window is open and we will see what happens.”

Chilwell is one of a number of senior stars left out of Maresca’s squad to face Servette in Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off first leg. Raheem Sterling has also been omitted, with the former Manchester City star losing his squad number to summer signing Pedro Neto on Wednesday.

Sterling, like Chilwell, was left out of the matchday squad on Sunday. “I’m not saying Raheem is not a good player but I prefer different kinds of wingers. This is the reason why,” the manager said.

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I cried so hard when He told me He will be leaving us by January, without Him I’m useless on the pitch”, Bruno Fernandez broke down in tears during press conference as another Man United key player confirm departure by January –

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I cried so hard when He told me He will be leaving us by January, without Him I’m useless on the pitch”, Bruno Fernandez broke down in tears during press conference as another Man United key player confirm departure by January – Not Rashford and not Mainoo

Manchester United are expected to lose Christian Eriksen for nothing, with the player attracting interest from Ajax over a potential reunion.

During the summer transfer window, United seemed keen to offload the Denmark international to make some profit on the player who had entered the final year of his contract. The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming the Mancunian giants could allow Eriksen “to leave for €5m.”

However, the 32-year-old remained at Old Trafford, and has surprisingly emerged as one of Erik ten Hag’s best performing players this season.

The Dutchman has largely overlooked both Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte for Eriksen, having handed him eight appearances across all competitions so far.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man’s technical security in possession has come in handy for the side who consistently struggle to control the tempo of the game. He has also been directly involved in six goals.

Despite his resurgence in form, United chiefs are “not expected” to give him a new deal, claims The Sun.

The midfielder will be free to leave in the summer of 2025 and negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England come January 1.

Eriksen, who joined United from Brentford in 2022, is understood to be in “high demand” and his former club Ajax “lead the way in trying to sign him.”

The Dane is a product of Ajax’s famed academy and made over 100 senior appearances for the Dutch giants before moving to England to play for Spurs.

His former club are keeping an eye on his situation and could reportedly be prepared to hand him a three-year deal, potentially allowing him to finish his career where it all started.

Eriksen has also attracted interest from clubs in America and Saudi Arabia but it is claimed the idea of a “fairytale return” to Amsterdam is tempting for him.

Ajax, keen to beat the competition for his signature, are looking to find an agreement with Eriksen in the New Year ahead of a summer switch.

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