It will remain ever so, but to gauge how culpable the squad are for Ten Hag's sacking, United sinking to 14th place in the Premier League and 21st in the Europa League, a simple question can suffice: how many of the listing group left behind by the fifth post-Sir Alex Ferguson manager removed by the club would Pep Guardiola take for his supreme Manchester City XI?
Those of a sky blue persuasion may answer zero owing to tribal loyalties and the success-soaked era of Guardiola's tenure - a type of if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it stance.
There is an argument for a few of the unit Rúben Amorim is poised to inherit, but the next man through the Old Trafford door should beware: a few is not enough to take United where Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the football department chief, wants them to be, competing with City, Liverpool and Arsenal for domestic spoils and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League each year.
Starting from the back, Lisandro Martínez seems a shoo-in for City given that Guardiola billed the Argentinian as one of the top "five centre-backs in the world" after City's 2-1 FA Cup final defeat in May.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 30, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 30, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Are the players at Old Trafford good enough for a new face to inspire future title challenges?
Rrik ten Hag is culled while players paid millions to realise Manchester United's on-field product remain, posting heartfelt \"thank you boss\" farewells on social media while still collecting their lucrative pay-packets.
Israeli strike on flats in northern Gaza kills at least 93
Scores of Palestinians, including many women and children, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a crowded block of flats in the town of Beit Lahiya as Israel pressed on with its assault on northern Gaza.
Amorim on his way United ready to pay £8.3m for Sporting head coach
Amorim led Sporting from despair but testing waters await
The 39-year-old built a legacy in Lisbon on consistency and charisma but his hiring would be a major gamble. Can he transfer his watchwords to the Theatre of Dreams?
Flekken's shootout stop spares Bees' blushes
Brentford reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties.
Clinton shows England have generational midfield talent on their hands
It is debatable precisely how much can be gleaned from this workout against a team ranked 50th in the world who lost 5-0 to Denmark on Friday but, if England can take one certainty from this victory, it is this: in Grace Clinton, they have found a generational midfielder who they can build the team around for at least the next four major tournaments.
Wiegman's shuffled pack stumble to sloppy victory
There were more questions to be asked than answers provided in England's 2-1 win over South Africa, but, to a certain extent, friendlies are when they can afford to be far from their best.
England take a punt on Bethell for NZ tour
Warwickshire's Jacob Bethell appears to be England's latest punt, with the 21-year-old batter named in the 16-man Test squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
New Test keeper Cox will not don gloves in West Indies white-ball series
The new England Test wicketkeeper Jordan Cox will not take the gloves against West Indies after being told to \"concentrate on his batting\" for the white-ball series.
Head coach opts for continuity but wants a fast and furious England to face the All Blacks
Far-reaching implications, pivotal decisions, an expectant nation. But let's not dwell on Rachel Reeves's mega budget and instead examine the intricacies of Steve Borthwick's first autumnal England team selection.
