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Gary Neville explains three reasons behind glaring Man United issue this season, points finger at struggling duo
Erik ten Hag has plenty of problems to solve at Manchester United after the poor start to the season.
After Tuesday’s meeting between club chiefs, it seems as though Erik ten Hag has survived being sacked over the October international break.
Ten Hag led the Red Devils to back-to-back draws against Porto and Aston Villa during a week where he was under immense pressure, and those results appear to have saved his job – for now.
The Dutchman is expected to remain in charge when United return to Premier League action next Saturday against Brentford at Old Trafford.
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League table and there is still plenty of pressure on Ten Hag to drastically improve results despite avoiding the sack this week.
Man United struggling to score under Erik ten Hag
There has been a lot of criticism towards United’s defence under Ten Hag, especially after the miserable 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
But there have actually been signs that United’s defence is improving this season, mostly because of the incredible form of goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Now, attention has shifted to United’s attacking department with the Red Devils only scoring five goals in the Premier League so far. Only 19th-placed Southampton have scored less.
United have missed too many big chances this season and it has cost them valuable points in the league table.
The finger is now being pointed at Joshua Zirkzee, who scored on his debut against Fulham but has now gone nine games without adding to his goal tally.
Zirkzee’s worst performance came against Villa, with club legend Paul Scholes questioning Zirkzee’s quality after the goalless draw.
Gary Neville gives three reasons for lack of goals
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville believes United’s lack of goals can easily be explained through three reasons.
After Roy Keane pointed out United’s poor goal record, Neville replied: “I think that’s really easy to explain. Three things:
“One – set pieces. I think they’re really poor on set pieces. So that’s one big way in which teams score goals.
“Secondly, do you have enough players in the team who have a record of scoring goals? No, they don’t.
“They have Rashford, who to be fair has had a couple of decent seasons, and Fernandes who has had a couple of decent seasons. Other than that, no one in that front line or midfield has a history of scoring goals.
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“When you haven’t got that, your combinations and patterns of play are where you get chances. When you don’t have patterns of play or combinations – which are repetitive – then you never know when to make a run in the box.
“My point is that these three things contribute to the no goals. It’s not as if they’re having a bad run of form.
“Zirkzee and Hojlund don’t score goals.”
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