Man Utd: The damning proof that Ten Hag teams can’t defend

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 26 Mar 2024 12:46 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s horrific defensive record this season has been laid bare by the sheer number of shots that Erik ten Hag’s side are conceding this season.

United have been leaking goals heavily this season, with 39 goals conceded in just 28 Premier League matches.

The Red Devils also let in a whopping 15 goals in just six Champions League group matches as they exited bottom of Group A.

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It is no surprise that Man Utd have been letting in so many goals when one considers just how many shots that Andre Onana is facing.

ESPN revealed that in the past six Premier League matches United have allowed their opponents to have an incredible 135 shots in total.

Everton attempted 23 shots during United’s 2-0 win over them on Saturday. Before that Man City had 27 attempts, Fulham 17, Luton Town 22, Aston Villa 23 and West Ham 22.

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From these six matches, United only had more attempts than their opponent in one game - against Fulham.

It is no surprise, then, that Man Utd have struggled so much this season with the club well off a Champions League place and with only the FA Cup to play for in terms of a trophy.

Even in that famous 4-3 FA Cup win over Liverpool last week, Jurgen Klopp's men had over 20 shots - including 11 on target.

Ten Hag record at Man Utd

Ten Hag joined Man Utd in the summer of 2022 and enjoyed a decent first season as he took the club back into the Champions League, won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final.

However, the 2023-24 campaign has been a total disaster for Ten Hag. United have lost 11 of their 28 Premier League games and have a goal difference of 0. They face a big struggle to finish in the Champions League places, even with fifth position likely to earn a spot in the tweaked competition.

They went out of the League Cup early but worst of all were humiliated in the Champions League group stages.

Despite being drawn in one of the weaker groups together with Galatasaray and Copenhagen, they finished bottom of the pool as the Danes and Bayern Munich progressed.

United picked up just four points and conceded 15 goals, the most ever by an English team in the groups in the history of the tournament.

Ten Hag has fallen out with a host of players during his time at the club, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, while there has been scrutiny over his reported bad relationship with Marcus Rashford.

The Dutchman is expected to be sacked at the end of the season.