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Mark Lawrenson believes he knows why Erik ten Hag is struggling to succeed at Manchester United

Mark Lawrenson believes he knows why Erik ten Hag is struggling to succeed at Manchester UnitedZohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images

Erik ten Hag is "probably too nice" too succeed at Manchester United, according to Mark Lawrenson.

Ten Hag is once again in the hot seat after a poor start to the campaign, as the Red Devils are in 14th place in the Premier League after seven matches. Add in an uninspired pair of draws to begin the Europa League and United are showing no real signs of improvement over a disappointing 2023-24 season, with talk turning to Ten Hag's job security.

For Lawrenson, who won five league titles as a defender with Liverpool in the 1980s, United are more of an individual collection of players rather than a team, and Ten Hag may not have the personality to handle the squad's dynamic. 

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“If I was Erik ten Hag, I wouldn’t necessarily be panicking, but I would be worried after a few bad results, and it might be the end for him," Lawrenson told Paddy Power. "At Manchester United, there is no assemblance of a team – they have some great players, but they don’t look like a team at this moment in time. 

“When they play each week, they don’t look like they are playing as a team. The game against Crystal Palace a couple weeks ago, they should’ve beaten them comfortably, but they just couldn’t do it. There is something ultimately wrong at the club, whether it be in the dressing room, or it might be aligned to the manager, but I think that Ten Hag isn’t the type of manager to walk into the changing room at half time and start having a go at players – he comes across as a nice guy, probably too nice and that’s most likely the problem.”

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