Ten Hag’s Manchester United Exit: Guardiola Laments ‘Challenging’ Profession, Predicts Resilience

Pep Guardiola is optimistic about Erik ten Hag's future, believing he will emerge stronger following his dismissal from Manchester United. Ten Hag's time at the helm of Manchester United concluded on Monday, precipitated by the team's 2-1 loss to West Ham in the Premier League the day before.

Guardiola expressed his confidence in Ten Hag's ability to bounce back after the setback at Manchester United. His dismissal came after a two-year stint at Old Trafford, which included a defeat to West Ham that led to his departure. Throughout Ten Hag's tenure with Manchester United, he encountered Guardiola on seven occasions, securing two wins and suffering five losses, with a notable victory in the FA Cup final in May. Despite this, Ten Hag was unable to capitalize on that triumph. Manchester United currently sits 14th in the Premier League standings, having earned only 11 points from their first nine matches. Guardiola lamented, "I feel genuinely sorry for him; football is one of the most challenging professions. It's exclusive to us, not like teaching or architecture." He continued, "I extend my best wishes to him, and I am certain he will return more resilient. Dismissal is a reality for any of us if the outcomes are not satisfactory, including myself." During his 85 Premier League matches in charge, Ten Hag lost 27, marking the highest number of losses for any United manager since Alex Ferguson. His loss percentage of 31.8% is the second highest among Red Devils managers in the Premier League era, only surpassed by David Moyes with a 32.4% loss rate over 34 matches. Under Ten Hag, Manchester United faced a total of 1,739 shots across 128 games. By comparison, since the 2022-23 season, Manchester City has conceded 717 fewer shots than Manchester United, even though they have played six additional matches. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined Ten Hag's coaching team this summer, will serve as the interim head coach while the club seeks a permanent successor.