Erik ten Hag Under Fire and Bruno Fernandes Disputes Red Card Decision

It was a day to forget for Manchester United as they suffered a crushing 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham on Sunday.

Tottenham secured the win with goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke. United struggled from the start, falling behind within just three minutes as Johnson finished off a great move by Micky van de Ven. Despite a brief improvement from United, the game was sealed in the 77th minute when Solanke’s strike beat Andre Onana. The final whistle was met with boos from the frustrated United fans. With a crucial Europa League clash against Porto on Thursday, Manchester United is now in a precarious position. Here’s the latest from Old Trafford, including reactions and insights.

### Ten Hag Under Pressure
Robbie Savage has suggested that Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United may be nearing its end after their humiliating loss to Tottenham. The Dutch manager has faced mounting pressure after a poor start to the season, with just seven points from six Premier League games.

Speaking on BBC Sport, former Birmingham and Leicester player Savage didn’t hold back in his critique: “I think his time might be up. They’ve got to make a big decision this week.” Savage’s assessment mirrors the growing sentiment that United may need to act soon. There were already rumors of Ten Hag’s potential departure earlier in the summer, and after recent performances, it seems his time at the club could be limited.

Savage suggested United might benefit from appointing an interim manager, proposing Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant this summer. Van Nistelrooy could step in to steady the ship as United seeks a permanent replacement.

### Fernandes on His Red Card
Bruno Fernandes, who was sent off during the Tottenham match, has expressed his frustration, insisting that the red card was harsh and undeserved. The United captain believes a yellow card would have been more appropriate for his challenge.

“I don’t think it was as bad as everyone is making out,” Fernandes said in an interview with Sky Sports. “I didn’t go in with my studs, I caught him with my ankle. It’s a clear foul, but never a red card in my opinion.”

Fernandes also mentioned a conversation with Tottenham’s James Maddison, who agreed that while it was a foul, it wasn’t worthy of a red card. Fernandes was particularly frustrated by the lack of VAR intervention: “If this is a red card, we need to look at many other similar situations. The contact wasn’t that strong. If the referee had given me a yellow for stopping a counter-attack, I’d understand. But why didn’t VAR ask him to check the screen? It’s just not a good decision.”

The Manchester Evening News echoed Fernandes’ sentiments, suggesting that a yellow card would have been a fairer punishment. Fernandes’ frustration is understandable as the red card contributed to United’s defeat, and the lack of a VAR review has left many questioning the decision-making process.

### Should United Sack Erik ten Hag?
With United struggling on the pitch and tensions mounting, the question remains: should Manchester United part ways with Erik ten Hag? Many pundits, including Savage, believe that change is inevitable if results don’t improve soon. With the team’s form deteriorating, the club may need to act fast before their season unravels completely.