Ten Hag says relegation a real possibility for Manchester United

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed that relegation is a real possibility for the club, given the Premier League's fierce competition. After a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, United currently sits one place above the drop zone with 17th position and only seven points from nine games. They have been winless in their last nine matches, the longest such run since 1984, according to Opta data.

United's board opted to retain manager Michael Carrick for the Chelsea match, despite the team's recent poor performances, including a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 4-1 loss in the Champions League against Como. Ten Hag told ESPN, "In the Premier League it's certainly possible, because all the teams are simply strong. They're all strong squads, all good managers. And if you end up on the wrong side once and you really get into that vicious circle - yes, then it can become very, very difficult."

Ten Hag took over at United in 2022 and led the team to FA Cup and League Cup victories before his dismissal in 2024. He praised the club's progress saying, "Before we arrived, six years without winning a trophy. Look where they are now." United's next matches include hosting AS Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday and playing against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.