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7th May 2024
03:41pm BST
Michael Owen has called on Manchester United to sack Erik ten Hag immediately.
United reached new lows on Monday night after being hammered 4-0 by Crystal Palace.
Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the Eagles deserved 2-0 lead in the first half before Tyrick Mitchell and a second half wonder striker from Olise made sure it was a memorable night for Palace.
It was another terrible performance for the Red Devils who are now in real danger of not qualifying for Europe at all.
Talk about Ten Hag's future has dominated the headlines in recent days, with reports suggesting that Thomas Tuchel may take over in the summer while Ten Hag could be off to Bayern Munich himself.
But former United striker Owen believes that they should cut their losses now.
Speaking on Optus Sports, he said: "I've said for a long time that Ten Hag is just not the right man for this job. I've been saying it for ages. He cannot, simply, cannot manage the team next season.
"They have a cup final and they have a few important games that could mean European football next year or not. And at some point, you have to make a decision.
"They are going to get absolutely hammered by Manchester City. They are going to get annihilated. In fact, Arsenal will smash them to bits at Old Trafford.
"They might not get anything else out of the rest of the season if they are playing like that.
"He cannot manage this team next season. He's not good enough. I've thought it for ages, he's just not good enough to manage Manchester United."
When pressed on who they would name as a suitable replacement for Ten Hag, both Own and Paul Scholes highlighted first team coach Steve McClaren as someone who could take the roll on an interim basis until the end of the season.
They both claimed that McClaren wasn't having much of an impact on the side and by giving him more authority, results would improve.
"We've played under Steve. He's coached us. There's no way his fingerprints are anywhere near that team. He's a brilliant coach. And that team is not being coached at all. No way," said Owen.
"There is no way on earth that he has anything to do with coaching that team. It's impossible."
Scholes added: "The manager must not be letting him touch that team because everyone thinks we were a great team that attacked everybody but sometimes we played better teams and Steve McClaren put sessions on to make sure you stopped other teams.
"He has got no impression on that team. He's the best coach I ever had."
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