Manchester United have been plunged into further crisis by Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace, with the pressure ramping up on boss Erik ten Hag from angry fans
Back in 1989, with Manchester United toiling in the early years of Sir Alex Feguson, a controversial banner was unfurled at Old Trafford.
The banner, fashioned from a white bedsheet and a pot of black paint, pulled no punches and read: “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap â Tara Fergie”. United lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace that day in December 1989, to heighten the sense of mutiny, although history showed the wisdom of the club’s decision to keep faith with Ferguson.
While we are not quite in that territory now, another home defeat – ironically to Palace – has seen United make their worst start to a league campaign since then, when fans were calling for Ferguson’s head.
Erik ten Hag has enough credit in the bank, after leading United to third place last season and a first trophy for six years, with victory in the Carabao Cup, to ensure his position is safe â for now. But the boos that rang out around Old Trafford at the final whistle, after a fourth league defeat in seven games, had echoes of those same tensions 34 years ago and will not be lost on Ten Hag.