‘Deluded’ - Richard Keys slams Erik ten Hag in brutal Manchester United verdict

Richard Keys and Andy Gray have delivered a brutal verdict on Erik ten Hag’s time as Manchester United manager.

The Reds face a battle to overturn the gap to Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, which could possibly earn a Champions League place. United are still in the FA Cup but have looked uninspiring at points in the season, heavily relying on late goals to keep themselves in contention for European football.

Speaking ahead of United’s game with Everton at Old Trafford, which the Reds won 2-0 thanks to penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford after Alejandro Garnacho was twice fould in the box, Keys and Gray admitted they had been left seriously underwhelmed by the team’s performance in last weekend’s Manchester derby. The beIN Sports duo criticised the club’s recruitment and style of play under Ten Hag, despite his impressive win ratio.

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“In the interest of balance, he’s won 61 of 100 games, which is a better record than any previous incumbent in the chair at Manchester United. I think he’s deluded,” Keys claimed.

“Who spent £90m on Antony? They could’ve used that money to, perhaps, buy a support striker for Hojlund, as Manchester City have in [Julian] Alvarez. Who spent £45m on a ‘keeper he didn’t need?”

In his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag highlighted the club’s injury list as a reason why United have failed to improve on last season’s top four finish. However, former Aston Villa and Everton striker regarded this as a poor excuse from the United boss.

“He certainly gives me the impression of a manager