Ten Hag warns Manchester United relegation is "entirely possible" after Chelsea collapse

Manchester United collapsed 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, leaving the Red Devils stranded in 17th place in the Premier League with only seven points from nine games — on the brink of the relegation zone.

Erik ten Hag, sacked by the club in 2024 and now manager of FC Twente in the Eredivisie, made no attempt to downplay the situation. When asked by ESPN after the Chelsea defeat, the Dutch coach delivered a blunt assessment: “In the Premier League, it’s entirely possible, because all the teams are simply very strong.” According to him, United has locked itself into a vicious cycle from which it becomes almost impossible to escape once the spiral begins.

The former manager also took the opportunity to put his own spell in perspective. “Before I arrived, they hadn’t won a trophy for six years. Look at where they are today,” he said, recalling that he had won an FA Cup and a League Cup before being removed.

On the pitch, the scenario against Chelsea was particularly bleak. Morgan Rogers’ opening goal illustrated Manchester’s defensive passivity, before Lisandro Martinez was sent off following a VAR review, depriving the team of any hope of a comeback. Captain Bruno Fernandes’ tears at the final whistle summed up the despair of a dressing room that hasn’t won a match in nearly two months.

A busy week awaits a group under pressure: United travel to Rome in the Conference League before hosting Aston Villa in the league, the final fixture before the international break.