Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has warned that relegation is a real possibility for the club amid their ongoing Premier League slump.
The Dutchman spoke out after a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday, October 31, which left United sitting 17th in the Premier League table. The result leaves the club just one place above the relegation zone, level on seven points with 18th-placed Crystal Palace and ahead of them only on goal difference after nine matches.
According to sports data company Opta, United have now gone nine matches without a victory across all competitions. That run marks the club's longest winless streak since 1984, highlighting the deepening crisis at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag warns of Premier League danger
Asked about the possibility of United being relegated from the English top flight for the first time in more than half a century, Ten Hag told ESPN that the outcome is entirely possible due to the sheer competitiveness of the division. In the Premier League, the bottom three clubs at the end of the campaign are relegated to the Championship.
Ten Hag explained that every opponent in the league is strong, boasting quality squads and capable managers. He said that if a team ends up on the wrong side of results once and enters that vicious circle, turning things around can become very difficult.
The Manchester United board decided to keep current manager Michael Carrick in charge for the Chelsea match despite growing scrutiny after earlier defeats. Those results included a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth and a 4-1 loss to Italian side Como in the Champions League.
Trophy record and upcoming fixtures
Ten Hag took over at Manchester United in 2022 and ended the club's silverware drought by winning both the League Cup and the FA Cup during his spell. The Dutch manager was dismissed in 2024 after just over two years in the post, and he has recently been appointed technical director of Dutch club FC Twente for the 2026-27 season.
Looking back at his tenure, Ten Hag emphasised that United had gone six years without a trophy before his arrival, telling people to look at where the team stands now. Manchester United were last relegated from England's top division in 1974, having maintained their top-flight status for more than half a century.
Manchester United return to action on Tuesday, November 3, when they host Italian side Roma in the Champions League. Carrick's team then face Aston Villa away from home in the Premier League on Sunday, November 8.
