I have said this multiple times but this is the final straw. Just get him out and watch the team improve” – This is according to Manchester United legend Gary Neville as he claims that Ratcliffe needs to remove a Manchester United figure who performed poorly, scoring just 1 out of 10, in the match against Coventry.

On Sunday, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, took on the challenge of finishing the famous London Marathon.

Although he crossed the finish line in four hours and 30 minutes, this proved to be less strenuous compared to the events later in the day.

An hour after completing the marathon, Ratcliffe arrived at Wembley Stadium for Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry.

The match initially seemed to be going well for Erik ten Hag’s team, leading 3-0, but turned into a tense contest as Coventry mounted an impressive comeback, nearly causing an upset for the Red Devils.

In truth, Manchester United could have lost. As the game stretched into extra time and reached the 121st minute, it looked as though Mark Robins’ team had achieved a stunning place in the final.

Then VAR, the Video Assistant Referee system, intervened. It prevented what could have been one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

The goal was disallowed for offside, and the match proceeded to penalties. Casemiro, taking the first penalty for United, had his shot saved.

It appeared a nerve-wracking moment for the team in red, but they eventually managed to progress, though just barely.

This marks Erik ten Hag’s second final in as many seasons; he led the team to victory in the Carabao Cup last year. However, does this recent success justify his position? It could be argued that it does not. Under ten Hag, United seems to be faltering, resembling a sinking ship.

Regardless of whether they win a trophy, the new ownership should consider parting ways with him this summer.

What has gone wrong for Erik ten Hag? It’s a complex issue. Ten Hag arrived in English football with a strong reputation from his time at Ajax.

However, he hasn’t quite met expectations this season. Despite reaching the FA Cup final, Manchester United has faced significant struggles throughout the campaign.

They failed to progress beyond the Champions League group stage and are currently seventh in the Premier League, 16 points behind a spot in Europe’s elite competition next season.

A top-four finish should be a basic expectation for any Manchester United manager. As one of football’s prestigious clubs, they should consistently contend for the league title.

Unfortunately, they are far from reaching that standard, and there is little indication of imminent improvement.

Although injuries to key players like Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez have affected the team, these setbacks shouldn’t drastically impact their overall style of play.

The primary concern is defense. Manchester United has alarmingly conceded seven goals during injury time in matches since February.

While some may see this as bad luck, it’s clear that the issue is deeper than mere chance.

Indeed, Ten Hag’s defensive tactics leave much to be desired. According to Understat, Manchester United is the fifth-worst team in the Premier League in terms of expected goals against (xGA), with a total of 63.61. Only Luton, Burnley, Sheffield United (the three teams in the relegation zone), and West Ham perform worse in this area.

In contrast, Arsenal boasts the league’s best defensive record, with an xGA of just 25.89, highlighting a significant gap.

Moreover, Manchester United’s attacking effectiveness is also lacking. Although they scored three goals at Wembley, they rank 12th in the league for expected goals (xG), with a total of 50.36.

This places them below even struggling teams like Everton, who are fighting against relegation.

These statistics paint a grim picture, and the issue of substitutions also stands out. Just before Coventry’s comeback gained momentum,

Ten Hag replaced Garnacho with the underperforming Antony. Then, with the score at 3-1, he substituted Kobbie Mainoo with the veteran Christian Eriksen.

Indeed, Manchester United should have been able to protect their lead, but it was telling that the Dutch manager chose to substitute two of his most dynamic players this season.

Omari Forson and Amad Diallo were introduced during extra time, but by then, it was too late.

Ten Hag was already under pressure before this extraordinary match at Wembley, but now the scrutiny is even greater.

Criticism is intensifying; Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News even rated him 1/10 for his handling of the semi-final. Severe? Perhaps.

But nonetheless, Ten Hag’s position seems increasingly precarious. The gap between United and the Premier League’s top teams continues to widen.