Erik ten Hag admitted he is unsure about to expect when his Manchester United team takes on managerless Leeds United in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The Yorkshiremen sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday with the American coach having been in charge less than a year, with the club sitting 17th in the table and outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Leeds lost their seventh League game in a row on Sunday, when they were beaten 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, which resulted in Marsch being relieved of his duties with Under-21s coach Michael Skubalaplaced in temporary charge.
He will be joined in the dugout at Old Trafford by development coach Paco Gallardo and Chris Armas, who was appointed as Marsch’s assistant at the end of last month.
“We have to be aware of that,” United manager Ten Hag said on Tuesday. “When Jesse Marsch was in the lead, it was clear how they play. Now it’s possible they change, it’s also possible they don’t change. I think we only will find out on the pitch tomorrow.
“But then we need good anticipation of that. The difference at that time [against Villa] was when Emery came in they had a week, or maybe even longer, to prepare. And now they have not so much time to prepare.”
Ten Hag was critical of the decision to dispense with Marsch's services so soon into his Elland Road reign. “It’s always sad if a manager as a colleague gets sacked. In general, I don’t believe in it, that if you sack a manager you get better results,” said the Dutchman.
Jesse Marsch during his final game as Leeds United manager which saw his team lose 1-0 at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on February 5, 2023. Reuters
Leeds United's Tyler Adams reacts after their defeat. AFP
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper celebrates with new goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Reuters
Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest celebrates after scoring their winner. Getty
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch. Getty
Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson scores their winning goal. PA
Brennan Johnson celebrates his goal with his Nottingham Forest teammates. AFP
Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson scores their winner. PA
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Getty
Leeds United's Maximilian Wober, left, battles for the ball with Nottingham Forest's Willy Boly and Keylor Navas. PA
Leeds United's Luke Ayling argues with referee Robert Jones. PA
Keylor Navas of Nottingham Forest makes a save from Luis Sinisterra of Leeds United. Getty
Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson scores their winner. PA
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas. PA
Nottingham Forest's Keylor Navas makes a save. AP
Leeds manager Jesse Marsch. Getty
Luke Ayling of Leeds United is challenged by Orel Mangala of Nottingham Forest. Getty
Leeds United's Pascal Struijk is shown a yellow card by referee Robert Jones. Reuters.
Leeds United's Maximilian Wober in action with Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood. Reuters
Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Leeds United's Tyler Adams battle. PA
“Let managers do their work, finish their work, then make a good evaluation. Obviously the pressure is high with the decision makers at football clubs and they turn. But, if you see facts, the stats, most of the time it doesn’t work out well.”
Ten Hag has decisions to make in midfield for Wednesday’s match, with Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial and Antony all missing through injury, while Casemiro is suspended following his sending off against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Skubala, meanwhile, says work is well under way to find a replacement for Marsch, with Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola understood to be among the leading candidates.
It is understood Leeds had a shortlist in place and interviews have already started at Elland Road for the club’s 13th manager in less than 10 years.
Skubala said: “This is temporary, I’ll go back to my old role when this is done. I’m just getting through this first game. Whatever happens between tomorrow and Sunday remains to be seen.
“I’ve seen change quite a lot so it’s important to be calm. It’s been busy, but it’s a good challenge. The owners are working really hard behind the scenes to find the solution.”
Man United 2 Palace 1: Player ratings
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7 - Got down to save well and push the ball away from Schlupp. Called to action when United went down to ten, but couldn’t stop the goal.
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7 - Attacked well with Antony in front, though his final ball could have been sharper. Involved in build up to second. Handled the pressure well when Casemiro red carded. Subbed as Ten Hag reorganised to make up for the departure.
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Raphael Varane 8 - Smooth operator. Retired from international football yesterday, beaten by Schlupp today, but that was the only time a Palace player bested him.
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Lisandro Martinez 8 - Tidy last-ditch challenge on Edouard. Important tackles – which he made because he read forward passes well to get in the right position. Became even more important in the last ten minutes. Man of the match.
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Luke Shaw 7 - Uneventful first half, eventful second. Quickly put the ball in for Rashford for the second. Got in the way as Palace pushed for their second. Stood strong on Olise after 81 minutes too.
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Fred 7 - Side-footed wide of the post on 36. Became more important after compatriot Casemiro was sent off. Roared into a 93rd minute challenge as the ten men worked hard to keep their lead. Encouraging.
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Casemiro 5 - Applauded for his first half trickery, less so when he was sent off for a straight red card on 71 after he grabbed the neck of Hughes with both hands. Shouldn’t have been involved. With Eriksen injured, he’ll be missed. At least he’ll be rested when he comes back.
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Antony 6 - His bursts of pace caused Palace problems and he combined well with Wan Bissaka. Fast, but matched for pace by Guehi. His reaction to a foul changed the game. His teammates were furious after that Schlupp challenge – which Antony was also booked for. And Casemiro was then sent off.
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Bruno Fernandes 7 - A hop, skip and he stroked a 6th minute penalty in – he’d missed his previous two. Involved in the second goal, made more key passes than anyone else as he got around the pitch. Palace goal went over his head.
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Marcus Rashford 8 - Seven shots. His cross led to the penalty. A danger on the left but also made central runs. Dipped a volley just over on 30, shot over on 55, then scored the second, alert as he guided the cross by Guaita. A difficult finish.
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Wout Weghorst 6 - Dangerous 13th minute header almost looped in. Central striker, but he moved wide, then picked up Fred after 35. Quiet thereafter and brought off after 59.
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SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Weghorst 59') 6. Lost his footing and appealed for a foul. Ball to Shaw to set up the second. Then he was substituted himself after 86. AFP
Marcel Sabitzer (Antony 80') N/A. On for his United debut. He’ll get his chance now with all those midfield absences.
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Harry Maguire (Garnacho 86') N/A. On at the end as United needed to defend.
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Victor Lindelof (Wan Bissaka 86') N/A. United had four central defenders on the pitch as the match finished. Reuters
CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita 7 – The Palace stopper was outfoxed for the early penalty, but a series of impressive first-half stops kept the away side in the game. Possibly could have done more to stop Marcus Rashford’s goal. EPA
Nathaniel Clyne 5 – The former Liverpool man hardly ventured forward and was generally pinned back by the impressive Rashford. A tough day at the office.
AP
Chris Richards 5 – Struggled throughout, most notably for United’s second goal when the American defender failed to pick up Rashford inside the six-yard box. PA
Marc Guehi 6 – Sloppy for the most part, lacking positional discipline. Much like Richards, he was also guilty of not marking attackers tightly enough. The defender did force a good save from David de Gea late on. AFP
Tyrick Mitchell 7 – Palace’s best defender, barely putting a foot wrong in challenging circumstances. He also blunted the talented Antony for the most part. AFP
Will Hughes 5 – Gave away a needless penalty early on for handball, which was duly dispatched by Bruno Fernandes. A costly mistake.
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Cheick Doucoure 7 – Industrious out of possession, playing a vital role in Palace’s late push for an equaliser. Grabbed the assist for Schlupp’s late strike. Getty
Jeffrey Schlupp 7 – Very lively in the second half, whipping several threatening crosses into the United penalty box. Excellently flicked home Palace’s consolation goal to revive hopes for the visitors.
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Jordan Ayew 6 – A key outlet for Patrick Vieira’s side, driving forward on a handful of occasions with real intent. However, his end product – as is often the case with the winger – left much to be desired. Getty
Michael Olise 6 – Not as influential as the in-form midfielder can be, although he grew into the game after Casemiro’s second-half red card. He curled in the corner which ultimately led to Schlupp’s goal.
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Odsonne Edouard 5 – Generally ineffective in possession, as the forward was unable to bring his talented teammates into the game in the first half. His shooting was also erratic, to say the least. Getty
SUBS: Albert Sambi Lokonga (Hughes 72') N/A – Performed much better than the Englishman out of possession.
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Eberechi Eze (Ayew 73') N/A – Added real energy and intent after coming on with 20 minutes to go.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta (Schlupp 83') N/A – Helped carve out several decent openings in the final moments of the game, including a neat cut-back from wide. Wasted a good headed chance in added time; Naouirou Ahamada (Doucoure 83') N/A.
AP