Stick or twist, that’s the question for Erik ten Hag next. A result against Manchester City would have made the choice easier but the manner of Manchester United's loss means he has a dilemma to ponder.
The Dutchman did excellently to banish the demons of the opening two defeats of the campaign, a four-game winning run in the league instilling confidence into a squad that looked desolate. He will now have to produce a similar turnaround.
Thursday’s trip to Cyprus to take on Omonia in the Europa League is not the ideal follow-up to Sunday’s rout at the Etihad, despite first appearances. Any top tier footballer will tell you that the best way to respond to a crushing loss is to bounce back with a big performance.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag explains why Casemiro has not been starting
United are in a no-win situation against the competition’s minnows. A victory is non-negotiable and a loss or draw would shatter confidence further.
It throws up a tough decision for Ten Hag. A trip to Goodison Park against an Everton side unbeaten in seven games awaits on Sunday, a venue where the run-in wheels fell off last season under Ralf Rangnick.
United are currently still two points off the top four. The carrot is breaking potentially into it with a victory, which puts more importance on the Everton fixture.
Ten Hag will want his players peaking and ready for the contest. However, he may feel like he has to play a stronger team than he would have liked against Omonia to ingest belief back into the side — something he said his team lacked against City.
If so, he will not only risk key personnel’s fitness for Sunday but also potentially risk upsetting fringe players who will have expected game time in the Europa League. Many of them have not seen much action at all due to Premier League postponements allowing United to field first-choice line-ups in both previous group games.
The cameras honed in on the unused Cristiano Ronaldo looking forlorn on the Etihad bench on Sunday, Casemiro too before he was brought on for an uninspiring cameo. Both will be hoping to feature this week.
The peril with rotations in other areas of the pitch, such as in central defence, increases the chances of a shock result with fringe players operating in important roles, especially away from home. Anything but maximum points would be catastrophic for morale.
Afterwards, Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea await with the home tie against Omonia wedged in. Sheriff and West Ham clashes will make it nine games in total across October.
It already looks like an important month in Ten Hag’s debut season and it is here where his mettle will be really tested. Thursday’s selection dilemma will be an important first step in restoring parity and, hopefully for United, a resurgence.
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