ERIK TEN HAG

Harry Maguire has been dropped by Manchester United despite being its club captain and the most expensive defender in soccer history.

It wasn't long ago that there was a crisis at Manchester United but that seems like a dim and distant memory now.

A wild summer transfer window was about to close with Manchester United and Manchester City completing deadline-day signings and other Premier League clubs still active in the market despite England’s top flight already spending more than $2 billion on new players.

Manchester United delivered a performance of intensity and spirit against a backdrop of protests against the club’s ownership to beat fierce rival Liverpool 2-1 and finally claim its first points in the Premier League this season.

Thousands of Manchester United fans angry at the direction of the club under its American owners took part in a protest ahead of the Premier League game against Liverpool.

It appears Ralf Rangnick was correct when he made the blunt assessment that Manchester United needed soccer’s equivalent of “open-heart surgery” to fix the many issues afflicting England’s biggest club.

Temperatures soared in England and no one was feeling the heat more than Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag pleaded for time after starting his Manchester United reign with a disappointing loss.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United remains shrouded in uncertainty after the Portugal great returned to the club’s training ground with his agent.

Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet returned to preseason training with Manchester United because of what has been publicly described as “personal reasons.”.

Manchester City has successfully defended its Premier League title by beating Aston Villa 3-2 on the final day of the season.

Liverpool is top of the English Premier League again after drawing with Tottenham 1-1 but Manchester City can go three points clear on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be the shining light in an otherwise disappointing season for Manchester United.

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus scored more goals in 53 minutes than he had in the previous eight months in the English Premier League.

Netherlands Ten Hag Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag is interviewed at the ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, April 15, 2022. British and Dutch media are reporting that Ten Hag has reached a verbal agreement to coach Manchester United. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (Peter Dejong)Once a model of coaching stability in Alex Ferguson’s long trophy-filled tenure, Manchester United hired a fifth full-time manager in nine years since his retirement by bringing in Erik ten Hag from Ajax. Ten Hag’s arrival was announced by United on Thursday, with the 52-year-old Dutchman joining at the end of the season to 2025. None of them worked out and nor did Solskjaer, although he at least got United to a second-place finish last season.

Netherlands Ten Hag Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag is interviewed at the ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, April 15, 2022. British and Dutch media are reporting that Ten Hag has reached a verbal agreement to coach Manchester United. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (Peter Dejong)MANCHESTER, England — (AP) — A model of stability in Alex Ferguson’s long trophy-filled tenure, Manchester United hired a fifth full-time manager in nine years since his retirement by bringing in Erik ten Hag from Ajax. Ten Hag’s arrival was announced by United on Thursday and the 52-year-old Dutchman will join at the end of the season to 2025. United has been led by interim managers Michael Carrick and currently Ralf Rangnick since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired in November.

Manchester United has hired Erik ten Hag as its fifth manager in nine years.