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Richard Keys slams Erik ten Hag in scathing Man Utd assessment

Richard Keys has questioned Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s claim that the club is in a “better place” under the Dutchman.

Ten Hag led United to a Carabao Cup victory in February, breaking a six-year drought. He has also led the Red Devils to the FA Cup final, and nine points from the next four games will guarantee a top-four finish and Champions League participation after they ended way below the pace last season.

After a summer of significant investment, Keys has argued that this should be the bare minimum. Nothing is definite in the Premier League table after back-to-back defeats, both by a single goal, against Brighton and West Ham.

Richard Keys has taken aim at Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, questioning whether the club is really in a “better place” under the Dutchman.

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“Ten Hag spent a record £220m last summer – more than United have ever spent in one window – to take them precisely…..nowhere,” Keys wrote.

“And he’s run out of excuses. There’s only so many times you can blame players for being ‘unprofessional’, or for not ‘sticking to the game plan’. That talk all wears a bit thin in a dressing room after a while.”

Keys all but dismissed United’s chances of beating Manchester City at Wembley in June, leaving only the top-four carrot. “Ten Hag MUST deliver CL football. Nothing else will do,” he added.

“If he does – ok – he buys himself another season. If he doesn’t – a League Cup win won’t be enough for this campaign. There was a time when United fans were embarrassed to win that trophy. How times have changed.”

United are only one point ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, despite having a game in hand, after consecutive losses to Brighton and West Ham. Ten Hag’s side can no longer qualify for the Champions League with a Europa League victory, having lost to Sevilla in the quarter-finals.

Ten Hag has granted his players two days off in order to re-energize his team before four crucial league games. Three of United’s final four games are at Old Trafford, beginning with a match against Wolves on May 13.

“It’s the first time since Christmas that those players have a full week,” Ten Hag told reporters after the loss at the London Stadium. “We have to reset, reload, get the energy back, and keep going.

“But tiredness is in your head. If you want, if you have the willingness, you can take it. It’s now up to the players, me, and the coaching staff to be together, get the willingness in and the belief that we can take it and this team has it.”