Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been the subject of a scathing assessment from outspoken punditry duo Richard Keys and Andy Gray despite Saturday’s 2-0 win against Everton. The Red Devils secured their eighth victory in 11 games in 2024 at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag’s post-match comments ruffled some feathers.
United were rarely threatened by Everton’s misfiring attack but failed to put Sean Dyche’s out-of-form strugglers to the sword, requiring penalty goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
After full-time, Ten Hag insisted that United defended well and could’ve scored four goals despite facing 23 shots and creating a lower open-play xG than the visitors.
His comments didn’t sit well with Keys and Gray, who ripped into the Dutchman during their analysis of the clash in M16.
“In the interest of ballots, he’s won 61 of 100 games, which is a better record than any previous incumbent of the chair at Manchester United… I think he’s deluded,” Keys said on beIN SPORTS.
Gray added: “He certainly gives me the impression of a manager who’s searching for stats and facts that tell his fans, Manchester United fans, that it’s not as bad as we’re seeing.”
After the pair listed a number of Ten Hag’s expensive signings, they analysed his record since United’s Carabao Cup final win last February.
Gray said: “That’s a more interesting record, for me [31 wins and 22 defeats in 60 games]. Just above 50 per cent victories.
‘But when you look at the things, goals scored [90] and goals conceded [84] are almost level. Come on… you’re Manchester United, that should not be a stat.
“In 14 games, they’ve scored three-plus, but in 13 games, they’ve conceded three-plus. Those are stats that are just damning. It can’t be anything else.”
Ten Hag has regularly cited United’s relentless injury problems as the source of his underwhelming second season as manager.
However, Gray wasn’t having any of it, questioning why United couldn’t cope without key absentees like Manchester City and Liverpool.
“I don’t look at facts and figures. I know what I’ve seen. I know what I saw last week. I saw one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from Man United. Maybe the worst I’ve seen in a derby,” Gray continued.
“And he’s putting that up because of injuries? No, they’ve got injuries, no more than Man City have had. They’ve lost Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, their best players, arguably, for long spells this season.
“They coped with it. Liverpool have played kids in a cup final. Coped with it and won it. So you can’t offer that as an excuse.
