Sir, – While the negative goal difference Manchester United have to show for the recent season probably is the most meaningful statistic, it still seems harsh to fire a manager who has had tournament wins in his first two seasons. Ken Early makes comparison with the now legendary FA Cup win in 1990 under Sir Alex Ferguson (“Ten Hag is better at finding excuses than solutions”, Sport May 27th). It’s fair to observe though that by then Ferguson was in place for four years during which he had won nothing. Jurgen Klopp, perhaps the most personally celebrated premier league manager of recent years, in his first two seasons at Liverpool finished eighth and fourth in the league and contested two cup finals. Nonetheless, like Ferguson, in his first two seasons he won nothing.
Eric Ten Hag has, somewhat inexplicably, won two cup finals, lost a third, and finished third in the league in his first season. Despite an almost comical inability to defend when leading, the team have won trophies and qualified for European football both times. Most clubs would regard this as a very auspicious start, and for many it would be seen as a golden era. Going back to the drawing board now will put any new manager under extraordinary pressure to deliver a better first two years. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
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Co Cork.
