Welcome to Hell. Three words synonymous with meetings between Manchester United and Galatasaray since these clubs first crossed swords 30 years ago. Just not at Old Trafford.
Yet when Erik ten Hag walks towards the home dugout before United’s Champions League game against the Turkish side on Tuesday night, he could be forgiven for feeling a deep sense of unease.
The crescendo of boos after Crystal Palace inflicted United’s latest defeat will still be ringing in his ears. The fans will be behind him again but they are getting restless.
Ten Hag now has two home games before the international break — against Galatasaray and then Brentford on Saturday — to get his team back on track, in what is becoming a perilously turbulent season, and prevent the crisis spiralling out of control.
United have made their worst start since Sir Alex Ferguson was fighting to save his job 34 years ago. Four defeats in the opening seven Premier League games has put Ten Hag under pressure.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has come under pressure after suffering four defeats in the opening seven games of the Premier League season
A 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday condemned United to their worst start to a season in 34 years
United had easily beaten Palace in the Carabao Cup just four days beforehand but were unable to repeat the trick in the league
Throw in the Champions League loss to Bayern Munich when United opened their Group A campaign in Germany and the picture does not get any prettier.
It is not a scenario Ten Hag or anyone else at the club envisaged when they spent £180million in the summer to build on his solid first season in England. Stranger still that Old Trafford is no longer the stronghold it was when he secured a third-place finish and won the Carabao Cup.
United suffered just two defeats at home in all competitions under Ten Hag last season. This term, the Dutchman has matched that before the end of September.
His team were lucky to beat Wolves in their opening league game and were two down inside four minutes against Nottingham Forest before coming back to win. It could have been worse. Now back-to-back league defeats at home by Brighton and Palace pose the question: have United become a soft touch at Old Trafford?
‘I won’t set that conclusion now,’ answered Ten Hag. ‘We have to do better, that is definitely the case, and we have to show in our body language that Old Trafford is a fortress and you can’t get anything here. The only thing you can go away with is a loss.
‘It’s frustrating for everyone, especially for the fans, but for the players and me as well. We have to stick together and fight together and get better. We can’t change this any more. The only thing we can change is the future, and Tuesday is the first game.’
The concern is that United are going backwards under Ten Hag. Yes, he has a horrendous injury list and off-the-field distractions surrounding Jadon Sancho and Antony — who watched this game from the stands following his return to training — but his players look devoid of direction and confidence, particularly going forward. Victories over Burnley in the league and Palace in the Carabao Cup last Tuesday had raised hopes United were over the worst of their early-season malaise, but a stronger Palace side returned here four days later to send Ten Hag into relapse.
Joachim Andersen scored the only goal with a sumptuous volley in the 25th minute, and full credit to Palace for defending with their lives as Roy Hodgson became only the second manager to win three Premier League games in a row at Old Trafford.
Joachim Andersen scored the game’s only goal, netting a sumptuous volley to secure all three points for the visitors
Roy Hodgson became only the second manager to win three Premier League games in a row at Old Trafford
‘We stuck to our plan and we got the rewards,’ said former United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. ‘The lads dug in. There’s blocks, there’s saves, there’s headers, again and again.’
It has left United sitting 10th in the table, one place behind Palace, and that feels about right for a team punching well below their weight.
Next up it is Galatasaray and the renewal of a rivalry stretching back to 1993 when United’s players faced the fire and fury of the Turkish fans in Istanbul.
If Ten Hag is not in hell just yet, he is certainly feeling the heat.
