Jamie Carragher says top target to replace Erik ten Hag a ‘tough sell’ for Man Utd fans

Erik ten Hag is once against battling to save his job as Manchester United manager (Picture: Getty)

Jamie Carragher fears the writing is on the wall for under-fire Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag ahead of Sunday’s game against Aston Villa.

The Dutchman is again battling to save his job following a disastrous start to the new season which culminated in last night’s chaotic performance against Porto in the Europa League.

United ultimately earned a point thanks to Harry Maguire’s late header but the mood was less than celebratory after they threw away an early two-goal lead.

Ten Hag was reportedly given two games to save his job following last weekend’s dismal 3-0 defeat against Tottenham and another abject display will surely result in the sack.

Carragher, however, fears the former Ajax boss was placed in an impossible position in the summer when United interviewed several candidates for his job before opting to give the 53-year-old one last chance.

Gareth Southgate remains one of the favourites to take over and although few United fans are likely to shed many tears over the probably departure of Ten Hag, Carragher isn’t sure the former England boss will set many pulses racing.

‘With an international break looming, it is inconceivable there are no emergency board meetings taking place at Old Trafford,’ Carragher wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

Defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday could spell the end for Erik ten Hag.

‘Some of the names being linked like Gareth Southgate will be a tough sell to the supporters, but whatever change is made will be an admission that not acting before pre-season was a mistake.

‘United will pay a heavy price for their indecision should they miss out on the Champions League for another year.

‘Nobody wishes to see a manager continue to suffer, but it is starting to feel like Ten Hag has missed his last chance of salvaging his reputation at Old Trafford.

‘Now the question is how long Ratcliffe and Ineos are prepared to tolerate the current situation to ensure their own does not suffer further damage.’

Ten Hag, meanwhile, accepted United must do better to control games and should have taken advantage of the position they found themselves in after scoring two early goals.

‘We started the game very good, scored two good goals, but then we lost control,’ Ten Hag said on TNT Sports. ‘The start was good, the middle part was no good, then we finished very good.

‘It is a tough place to go and we are coming back from a 3-2, then get the equaliser, so it is good for the spirit.

‘You see again that the team is willing, strong character, but the middle part, the defending we have to improve. We have to be better on the ball and defend better.”

Pressed on his future, the Dutchman said: ‘We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process, we will improve. We have two seasons now where we achieve finals, (so) just wait.

‘We have to develop and progress this team. We will work and continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team, the players are together and want to achieve. We have that good mentality, but some defending parts we have to step up.’