Erik ten Hag has erroneously claimed to have “beaten all the teams in the Premier League” as Man Utd manager. But at least three sides will beg to differ.
Ten Hag has been an absolute success as Man Utd manager thus far, taking them to third in the Premier League, the FA Cup quarter-finals and the Europa League knockouts, while winning the League Cup.
There have been some famous results delivered in the process, such as victories over Liverpool and Manchester City.
But the Dutchman appears to be confused about some of the results earned during his reign.
“We have made good progress but there is still a gap,” he said in his pre-Real Betis press conference. “I couldn’t expect we would make that gap up quickly.
“But we want to win every game, no matter the opponent. All the games you see until now, we try to win every game.
“We’ve beaten all the top teams, we are capable of doing it, but we have to make the next step to be more consistent. But we know we can do it.
“You see the competition and I also heard comments from other players and managers that the Premier League was never as difficult as now.
“There are so many competitors. It’s not a two-horse race, it’s a five, six, seven-horse race – you have to be very good if you want to win the league.
“They spend money, they have great managers and players. But we have beaten all the teams in the Premier League.”
That final line will be of particular interest to the five teams Man Utd have categorically not beaten under Ten Hag in the Premier League.
Man Utd opened the season in disastrous fashion with defeats to Brighton and Brentford, who they meet for the second time on March 18 and April 5 respectively. The Seagulls are seventh, eight points behind Ten Hag’s side with a game in hand, while the Bees are a place and a point further back.
Draws with Newcastle and Chelsea in October – the latter thanks to a stoppage-time Casemiro equaliser – kept Man Utd in the Champions League qualification hunt, with the Magpies subsequently beaten in the League Cup final. But Chelsea have avoided defeat to Man Utd in six games since February 2020.
The final team Man Utd have not beaten in the Premier League despite having “beaten all the teams in the Premier League” are Aston Villa, who were victorious at Villa Park in Unai Emery’s first game as manager – although a measure of revenge was taken four days later in the League Cup at Old Trafford.
So at the very least, Ten Hag has not yet beaten Brentford, Brighton or Chelsea. How incredibly embarrassing. His resignation is presumably being prepared.
Erik ten Hag believes Arsenal have been fortunate with their lack of injuries and suspensions this season 🗣 pic.twitter.com/0mElfn5Y1Z
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) March 15, 2023
