Erik ten Hag's new dawn preoccupied with same old problems

But, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in attendance for the first time since he bought 25 per cent of the club before Christmas, ten Hag is running out of time, and excuses, if he wants to survive in charge beyond the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro (left) and Manchester United's Marcus Rashford battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Sunday January 14, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Man Utd. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

THE phoney 'war' and the garish headlines are over in the Manchester United takeover saga and, as his side battled to an entertaining point against Tottenham last night, Erik ten Hag’s audition for the long-term job as manager began in earnest.

It is probably a sign of how far standards have fallen at Old Trafford that an often frantic draw with a sub-strength Spurs was lauded as a good result, especially with Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford both on the mark for a United team that has struggled badly for goals this season.