Erik ten Hag is risking his Manchester United future and playing with fire

Marcus Rashford placed his hands on his head in disbelief and looked to the touchline. Erik ten Hag stoically looked onward and did not move. David de Gea's face was buried in the turf and he wanted the London Stadium's pitch to swallow him.

His mistake was unexplainable and it cost Manchester United the game against West Ham. The players could not respond and their goalkeeper looked completely devoid of confidence or ability, just like against Sevilla where he was also at fault.

The players did not comfort De Gea after his blunder, which saw a shot so tame it was more like a pass trickle over his hands. It should have been a routine save and Said Benrahma did not expect the effort to find the net, nor did the West Ham fans.

ALSO READ: United player ratings vs West Ham

Although the Sevilla debacle felt like the possible end of De Gea, his performance against West Ham certainly should be. His kicking was wayward, he was fortunate to win a free-kick when Michail Antonio scored and it highlighted his decline again.

De Gea's contract expires at the end of the season and he's on course to sign an extension, but any new deal would be a colossal mistake. The club must cut him loose or concede going into the future with a goalkeeper who is stuck in the past.

The 32-year-old's kicking is so poor that he was ostracised from Spain's national team long ago. He lacks authority, he cannot play it out from the back, he invites the opposition to press and he's markedly fallen behind his peers in key departments.

He's made four errors leading to a goal this season and that's the joint-most with Hugo Lloris in the Premier League. Lloris is another goalkeeper who has succumbed to decline, but at least it seems Tottenham will get rid of