With Van Nistelrooy in his shadow, Erik ten Hag is on the brink at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of Manchester United. It is really a very tough phase for him. United have made a rocky start to the season, with the Dutchman under intense pressure owing to results that are far below expectations. United have secured just three wins from 11 matches. That is just unacceptable at a club the size of United.

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In fact, speculation about a possible sack is already rife at Old Trafford, with reports suggesting an imminent key meeting. And, as so often happens in the fast-moving world of soccer, a coach's seat is never really secure for long.

The Arrival of Ten Hag and Broken Promises

The moment Erik ten Hag was appointed, his name reverberated with a lot of excitement. Coming from Ajax, where he managed to construct a young, energetic, and dynamic team, the hope was that he could bring that same revolution into United. He indeed had a promising start, but as things stand, the shine has faded away way too fast.

The Premier League doesn't forgive that easily. What we see now is a Manchester United side that really looks disoriented without the intensity and identity with which it has always taken to the field. And then again, poor outings in all European competitions never helped to cool things down.

United simply can't afford mediocrity, and it looks like Ten Hag is getting dangerously close to paying the price for it.

Van Nistelrooy on the Radar?

With Ten Hag under pressure, one name that does keep cropping up and fuelling sentimental debate amongst the fans is that of Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The former striker-so potent while playing for United-is touted to be one of those replacements in case the board decides to change their current staff. And it is not pure sentimentality here. He has been building his coaching curriculum, most notably at PSV.

But the big question lingers: is Van Nistelrooy capable of leading Manchester United back to glory? As a player, he was a hero in these parts, but his appointment as the top gun will raise serious misgivings about whether he has the experience required at the top level. His possible appointment would maybe follow a similar path to that of fellow former player Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who took over as caretaker boss and experienced highs and lows at the club.

Like Solskjær, Van Nistelrooy is a club legend. That would certainly buy him some time and patience from the fans, something Ten Hag doesn't seem to have anymore. But will that be enough to put United back to the top?

The Decisive Meeting

According to The Guardian, what usually is a straightforward weekly meeting now is expected to decide Ten Hag's fate. The presence of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the major shareholders and a key figure in United's soccer operations, gives weight to the situation. As we all do know, a run of poor results usually ends in swift consequences, especially when the investors and shareholders want answers.

The next few days will determine whether Manchester United sticks with Ten Hag or ushers in a new era under the guidance of Van Nistelrooy. What is, however, beyond any reasonable doubt is the fact that time is indeed running out. United is a team that ought to be fighting for the title in the Premier League and advancing in Europe.