West Ham United face a major unexpected Erik ten Hag problem after the new Man United boss set the cat amongst the pigeons.
West Ham have seriously impressed under David Moyes again this season. But the opposite is true for Moyes’s former club Manchester United.
So much so the Red Devils sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and have appointed Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as their replacement for interim coach Ralf Rangnick.
West Ham travel to Brighton for the final game of the season on Sunday with plenty still to play for.
A win against what has become something of a bogey team for West Ham, would see Moyes’s side finish sixth in the Premier League if Man United do not beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Should Man United draw or lose and West Ham win at Brighton, it would secure back-to-back sixth place finishes for the Hammers and qualification for the Europa League again.
It would also dump the once mighty Man United into a Europa Conference League play-off in August.
West Ham are hopeful Palace, who have been a much better side under Patrick Vieira this season, can do them a favour by getting at least a draw at what promises to be a noisy Selhurst Park for the club’s final home game of the campaign.
But West Ham face a major unexpected Erik ten Hag problem as the new Man United boss has set the cat amongst the pigeons ahead of the game.
West Ham face major unexpected Erik ten Hag problem as new Man United boss sets cat amongst pigeons
Because the Dutchman has jetted in to London to meet staff and it has been confirmed he will be attending the match against Palace (The Guardian).
Ten Hag does not officially start life as Man United boss until Monday. But, keen to start his Man United rebuild, the 52-year-old has flown in early to meet staff in London and will be running the rule over the Red Devils against Palace.
The Guardian states ten Hag will not be involved in team selection or preparation for the game.
But it is an unexpected twist for West Ham as Man United’s players will now automatically up their game and effort levels in a bid to impress their new manager.
It is obvious that the players will react knowing their new manager is in the building to specifically watch, assess and analyse their every move.
And many of their Man United futures could rest on what ten Hag sees.
Interim Man United boss Rangnick has remained in charge of senior affairs and will be responsible for selecting the team and preparing tactics for the Palace fixture.
So Moyes and West Ham will just have to hope he continues to do a miserable job of it come Sunday while taking care of their own business at Brighton.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Gary Neville’s 18-word comment is downright disrespectful to West Ham.
Kurt Zouma due in court after new snub for West Ham star.
West Ham get Broja and Gallagher update from the horse’s mouth.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
