“I have said this multiple times but this is the final straw. His performance during this match is the last straw. He has only been a disappointment” – This is according to Manchester United legend Gary Neville as he claims that Ratcliffe needs to remove a Manchester United figure who performed poorly, scoring just 1 out of 10, in the match against Fulham.

On Sunday, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe took on the ambitious task of completing the iconic London Marathon. He crossed the finish line in an impressive time of four hours and 30 minutes, but the real challenge lay ahead.

Just an hour after finishing the marathon, Ratcliffe made his way to Wembley Stadium to witness Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry. What seemed like a straightforward match, with Erik ten Hag’s team leading 3-0, turned into a nerve-wracking ordeal as their Championship opponents staged an incredible comeback, nearly pulling off a shocking upset.

To be honest, Manchester United were fortunate not to lose. As the match extended into extra time, Coventry seemed poised to secure a spot in the final, especially as the clock ticked into the 121st minute. However, their hopes were dashed by the controversial VAR decision, which ruled out their potential winning goal for offside. The match then proceeded to penalties, where Casemiro’s missed attempt added to the tension. Yet, despite the drama, Manchester United narrowly advanced to the final.

This marks Erik ten Hag’s second consecutive cup final, following last season’s Carabao Cup triumph. But does this recent achievement truly secure his position at the club? Arguably not. Under ten Hag, Manchester United seems to be struggling, more like a ship in troubled waters.

Despite their cup run, Manchester United’s performance this season has been underwhelming. They failed to progress beyond the group stage in the Champions League and currently sit seventh in the Premier League, a daunting 16 points away from securing a spot in next season’s European competitions.

For a club of Manchester United’s stature, consistently competing for the league title should be the norm, but they are far from reaching that level. And worryingly, there are few signs that things will improve anytime soon.

While injuries to key players like Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez have certainly been a setback, the team’s overall style of play shouldn’t be this affected. The real issue lies in their defense. Since February, Manchester United has conceded seven goals during injury time—an alarming statistic that points to deeper problems than just bad luck.

Ten Hag’s defensive tactics have been questionable. According to Understat, Manchester United ranks as the fifth-worst team in the Premier League in terms of expected goals against (xGA), with a total of 63.61. For comparison, Arsenal, the league’s top defensive team, has an xGA of just 25.89—a stark difference.

Offensively, Manchester United is also struggling. Despite scoring three goals at Wembley, they rank 12th in the league for expected goals (xG), with a total of 50.36, placing them below even relegation-threatened teams like Everton.

These troubling statistics are compounded by Ten Hag’s questionable substitution choices. As Coventry’s comeback loomed, he substituted the underperforming Antony for Garnacho and replaced Kobbie Mainoo with Christian Eriksen at 3-1. Although Manchester United should have been able to hold their lead, these decisions raised eyebrows, as Ten Hag opted to bench two of his most dynamic players this season.

Omari Forson and Amad Diallo were introduced during extra time, but by then, it was too late to make a difference.

Ten Hag was already under scrutiny before this dramatic semi-final, but now the pressure has intensified. Criticism is growing, with some, like Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, giving him a harsh 1/10 rating for his management of the match. Severe as it may be, the reality is that Ten Hag’s time at Manchester United could be running out. The gap between them and the Premier League’s elite continues to widen.