Tuchel demand, Zidane issue, Van Nistelrooy scenario - Man United told Erik ten Hag replacement

Manchester United are backing Erik ten Hag following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur but there are questions over how patient the board will be.

Sunday was the manager’s ninth home Premier League defeat as United boss and the second league game in a row in which his side have shipped three goals without reply. United have won just two of their opening seven Premier League matches.

Ten Hag was kept on by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the new regime this summer, having failed to find a suitable replacement. The Dutchman has won two trophies in as many seasons at Old Trafford, though the club recorded their lowest-ever Premier League finish last term - eighth.

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Having spent more than £600million during his tenure, pressure is once again mounting on Ten Hag with few excuses available given a new hierarchy has been installed and more than £200m was splashed over the summer.

Should United’s dismal form continue and Ten Hag be axed, who should replace him? Do United look for a permanent replacement or instead a caretaker until the end of the season? Our United writers have their say.

If Ten Hag is shown the door, there will be swathes baying for new assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy to be appointed on a caretaker basis. The former United striker would immediately bring the fans back on side and he has managerial experience from his time at PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Dutch Cup in 2023 and attained a 68 per cent win ratio.

His hiring would evoke familiar memories of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who got the full-time job after doing well as a fill-in. But every fan knows how that ended.