Podcast news: Anil Kandola on Manchester United's struggles under Erik ten Hag
Talksport’s Anil Kandola was the special guest on the latest episode of the Sports News Blitz podcast, now available on Spotify and YouTube.
In a wide-ranging discussion with Sports News Blitz’s Sam Herd and Matthew Dudley, Kandola delved into the lacklustre state of his beloved club, who sacked manager Erik ten Hag on Monday.
The reporter, producer and dedicated Manchester United fan gave listeners a candid view of the struggles facing United as they navigate yet another difficult season.
Premier League out of sight
Kandola's appearance on Sports News Blitz follows a previous episode featuring Manchester City die-hard fan and Radio Manchester host Emily Brobyn. The tone was, however, predictably different as he expressed his frustrations with United’s performances.
"The Premier League is such a write-off," Kandola remarked bluntly when discussing what would satisfy him as a fan this season.
Currently, United sit in 14th place in the Premier League table after nine matches, boasting a disappointing goal difference of minus three having scored a paltry eight goals. Only three teams have a worse tally - Southampton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich - and they occupy three of the bottom four places.
It is hard to disagree with Kandola’s sentiment considering the club's historically high standards, not to mention the recent sacking of Ten Hag.
The pressure is thus on as United prepare for a series of critical fixtures against Chelsea, Leicester, and Ipswich. They will now do so with an interim manager as the search for Ten Hag’s replacement begins.
These matches could ultimately make or break the league season, more so given that this is already United's worst start in Premier League history.
READ MORE: Man Utd analysis: Erik ten Hag sacked after loss to struggling West Ham
Salvaging the campaign
"I think the big one for me personally is the Europa League," Kandola asserted, underlining its importance in providing a pathway to Champions League qualification for next season.
Even at this early stage, especially in light of recent developments, a top-four finish in the league appears unlikely. This makes success in Europe all the more crucial.
With upcoming matches against teams like PAOK, Bodo/Glimt and FCSB, Kandola believes that - on paper - United should be able to secure progress through to the knockout stages comfortably.
Whoever takes over from Ten Hag will surely feel the same.
Erik ten Hag at United
The discussion also touched on Erik ten Hag's tenure as United manager.
"I think he [was] a very fortunate individual to be there in the job [until] now," Kandola suggested of the sacked Dutchman.
Interestingly, Ten Hag had a surprisingly high win percentage of 57.9% while at Old Trafford, the third highest for a United manager since World War II.
While that figure surpasses the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis van Gaal, pointing to Ten Hag's capability amidst all the turmoil, the current issues at United remain complex.
Kandola further expressed concern that the challenges at the club might be too great for any single manager to address effectively: "I think even Pep Guardiola, with Jurgen Klopp as his assistant, would probably struggle at Manchester United at the moment!"
Now, with Ten Hag finally pushed out the door, Kandola’s concerns are to be tested yet again.
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Poor transfers
One of United's main issues over the last decade has been the club's transfer strategy, which has seen several high-profile signings fail to deliver on their hefty price tags.
Kandola pointed to a pattern of significant investments that have not yielded expected results, including Anthony (€95 million), Jadon Sancho (€85 million), and Harry Maguire (€87 million).
"A couple of big-money signings and then back to square one where they underperform," Kandola noted, illustrating the frustrating cycle that fans have witnessed in recent years.
As the conversation unfolded, however, it became clear that Kandola's passion for Manchester United remains undiminished despite the team's current plight.
In the end, his insights encapsulated the struggles, hopes and frustrations of many United fans who are yearning for a return to the glory days.
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