Manchester United, currently seventh in the Premier League table and trailing 16 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa with just six games remaining, has been a topic of intense discussion. The club's manager, Erik ten Hag, recently shared his insights on why he believes the team is overperforming this season.
United have faced significant challenges this season with an alarming number of confirmed cases of injury or illness. A total of 60 instances have caused players to miss games throughout the season. The upcoming Premier League match against Sheffield United could see them without as many as 12 players.
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United manager, said:
“I would say it’s over, over-performing with all the problems we have had, Getting into the final is already a big achievement, but we are here for trophies. We have an opportunity to win a trophy and that is good.
"But we are not satisfied by being in the final, we want to win it and that is what we will go for and it’s our mentality. That is why we are successful. That’s why I am successful over 10 years as a manager, I always bring out the maximum of each squad.”
Despite these setbacks and having spent more than £400 million on signings since Ten Hag took over two years ago, United still find themselves in seventh place - a considerable distance from Aston Villa who are comfortably seated in fourth place.
Cup competitions haven’t come good for United this season
United's performance in cup competitions has also been underwhelming this year. Their defence of the League Cup ended prematurely at the second hurdle while their European campaign was cut short when they finished bottom of their Champions League group in December.
However, there is a silver lining amidst these disappointments - their progression to the FA Cup final. This achievement has somewhat overshadowed Ten Hag's feat of becoming only the fourth United manager to guide them to successive finals in this competition.
Erik ten Hag's take on Coventry City game
Despite widespread criticism from supporters and reporters alike for their semi-final success being less than convincing, Erik ten Hag has attempted to portray it positively. He refused to specify which comments he found "embarrassing" and "a disgrace" following the Coventry tie but admitted feeling "angry" at himself for letting United surrender a 3-0 lead with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.
Erik ten Hag added:
“I haven’t read the comments, I have seen the reactions in general. I was annoyed. I was annoyed by the team, by myself because I am part of the team and it shouldn’t happen.
"But also, especially when you sit down and analyse it, it is also part of bad luck. The deflected shot, the penalty should not have been given. But I was annoyed by myself.”
An FA Cup triumph, while a significant achievement, is unlikely to completely salvage the season for Ten Hag and United. If they suffer their 13th loss from their remaining six fixtures, it could result in their worst season in the Premier League era.
Despite the challenges faced by Manchester United this season - from injuries and illnesses to early cup exits - Erik ten Hag insists that reaching the FA Cup final would be an overachievement. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts watch closely, only time will tell how this turbulent season will end for Manchester United.
