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The aims were subtly shifted. Erik ten Hag tried to argue that he did not contemplate the consequences of failure. And yet, as Manchester United may be powerless to prevent ejection from the Champions League, Ten Hag did not refer to the competition by name. United could be plunged into the Europa League. Lose to Bayern Munich and it is guaranteed they will be out of all continental competitions. Ten Hag did his best to sound upbeat but downgraded his targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I know is I never think of a negative scenario, we think positive,\u201d said Ten Hag. \u201cWe know what to do, we have to win to stay in Europe, it\u2019s about that.\u201d <\/p>\n
In part, that reflects a plight United have created by conceding the second most goals in the Champions League. Even victory against Bayern would only keep them in the premier European tournament if there is a draw between FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Draw with the serial German champions and they will finish fourth in Group A if there is the same result in Denmark; in addition, if United were to finish level on points with the Turkish team, they would be below them on their inferior head-to-head record.<\/p>\n
All of which explains why he seems to have turned his sights to the Europa League, to a competition United seemed to have escaped by finishing third in the Premier League, to one where they had a slog of 12 games \u2013 no fewer than four in Spain \u2013 last season and still did not even reach the semi-finals.\u201cIt\u2019s not in our hands but we want to stay in Europe,\u201d added Ten Hag. <\/p>\n
United\u2019s identity dictates they have to; their league position \u2013 sixth \u2013 suggests they will be back in action on Thursday nights next season. And yet a glimpse at the various group tables indicates how ignominious a Champions League exit would be. Take out the resident pool of death, and two of AC Milan, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain will not qualify, and there would be no remotely comparable casualty at this stage. Sevilla and Benfica are also underachievers propping up their pools, but they have neither United\u2019s budget nor their expectations.<\/p>\n
And so Ten Hag avoided all mentions of the Champions League. He can excel at message discipline. The question more is if the message is convincing. \u201cWe have also a very good performance and highs and if we get it and are in the right spirit then we are able to do it and beat any opponent,\u201d he claimed. Yet their best victims, according to the Premier League standings, are Fulham, in 10th. \u201cThe game against Chelsea, the game against Everton, even the game against Galatasaray: I know this team can perform at really high levels,\u201d Ten Hag rationalised. \u201cIt\u2019s not that we did it three months ago: we did it last week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag heads into a crucial week following a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth <\/p>\n
Bayern were twinned in embarrassment on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel\u2019s team losing 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt when United went down 3-0 to Bournemouth. But Bayern have not lost a Champions League group game since a 2017 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, some 39 matches ago. United began well in Bavaria in September, conceded first courtesy of an Andre Onana error and ended up flattered by a 4-3 scoreline.<\/p>\n
Thus far, Ten Hag has picked five different back fours in five Champions League games, while three different players have begun as the most defensive midfielder. That instability, often caused by injury, is his explanation for United\u2019s inconsistency.<\/p>\n
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United\u2019s hopes are out of their hands ahead of hosting Bayern <\/p>\n
They had greater continuity last season and better results. \u201cWe had a regular team, not so many changes, I think especially in our backline,\u201d Ten Hag said. \u201cWe had [for] a long time a regular formation and that helps.\u201d That nevertheless highlights his decision to relegate Raphael Varane to last-choice centre-back. The Frenchman started when United got their lone shutout, at home to Copenhagen, though also in the 3-2 loss at Old Trafford to Galatasaray.<\/p>\n
They lost a lead then, while they went 2-0 up in their last two matches and ended up with a lone point to show for it. Scott McTominay, one of their scorers in Turkey, nevertheless touted their \u201cbig characters\u201d. He argued United\u2019s problems are not caused by unrest in the dressing room. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a case like with some of the other managers where it\u2019s been a little bit toxic at times,\u201d said the midfielder.<\/p>\n
That could produce a different conclusion \u2013 that United simply have not been good enough \u2013 and it would not be the first time. Since their last Champions League semi-final, in 2011, United have finished third in the group three times, in 2011-12, 2015-16 and 2020-21. \u201cIt is not always sunshine and rainbows,\u201d said McTominay, a member of the 2020-21 team. And the danger is that United\u2019s chances of remaining in the Champions League were washed away by Galatasaray\u2019s comeback in the deluge in Istanbul two weeks ago.<\/p>\n