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The topic that just won’t go away at Manchester United is about the future of manager Erik ten Hag. As the Red Devils line up to face West Ham United at the London stadium today, the question a lot of people are asking is, will a defeat – especially a heavy one – signal the end of the Dutchman’s reign at the club?
Ten Hag himself insists that speculation around his future is invented by the press and that he and part-owners of the club, Ineos, are all working together and believe in each other.
It was widely rumoured that unless United beat FC Porto and Aston Villa that the Dutchman would be sacked before the international break, but they did not do so and yet nothing came to pass.
This has led to a fuzzy situation among fans and the press: we simply do not know whether Ten Hag’s job is hanging by a thread, or whether Ineos really have committed to sticking by him no matter what, at least for the foreseeable future.
One thing is for certain, and that is defeat today will increase the chatter to astronomical proportions.
Recent history does not bode well for United. The teams both won at home in the corresponding fixture last season, but the Hammers have won the last two meetings at London Stadium without conceding a goal.
Ancient history will be at the back of United’s minds as well. Older fans will remember the ill-fated trip to Upton Park one Wednesday night in April 1992, when the Hammers were already doomed to relegation and United were ahead of Leeds in the chase for the Division 1 crown. A win would have all but certainly clinched their first title in 25 years.
Everyone expected United to grab three points, but tired legs from playing three games in seven days and a defiant, aggressive performance from the Londoners saw them grab a shock 1-0 win and United ultimately lost the title to an Eric Cantona-inspired Leeds.
History repeated itself three years later, when United were going for their third consecutive Premier League title. They travelled to face an already relegated West Ham side with the Red Devils needing a win in their final game of the season – and for an Alan Shearer-led Blackburn side to drop points away to Liverpool – to clinch the hat-trick of crowns.
The result at Anfield went the right way, but United only managed a draw, allowing the Irons to rob them of the league title yet again.
Today’s match is not going to decide any titles, but given the precarious situation in the dugout, it could prove to be a sliding doors moment for United. West Ham are already looking in danger of relegation after registering just two wins against Ipswich and Crystal Palace so far this season and being on the receiving end of heavy defeats against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs.
However, United have their own confidence issues and another nine-man injury crisis, making this a very difficult match to predict.
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images