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Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has warned that the Red Devils face a genuine relegation threat unless they can turn their fortunes around soon.
The Dutchman, who managed Old Trafford from July 2022 until October 2024, has seized on recent chances to weigh in on his former club's difficulties and rekindle his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, and that pattern continued during an appearance on ESPN's Goedemorgen Eredivisie.
Attention quickly shifted to United's poor form in the league this season. A nine-game winless run across all competitions has sent the Red Devils sliding to 17th in the Premier League, staying out of the relegation zone only by virtue of goal difference.
While calling relegation just nine games into the campaign may seem premature, Ten Hag was eager to remind United that the Premier League is unforgiving enough to punish any side that remains mired in a prolonged slump.
"In the Premier League it's certainly possible [that United could be relegated], because all the teams are simply strong," he said. "They're all strong squads, all good managers. And if you end up on the wrong side once and you really get into that vicious circle ... yes, then it can become very, very difficult."
Could Man Utd Actually Get Relegated?
Technically speaking, relegation is a possibility for every club in the Premier League, though there are a select few for whom a drop to the second tier feels almost unthinkable.
Arsenal could theoretically go down, but that scenario is virtually impossible. Similarly, Manchester City could find themselves in the drop zone, though that would likely only occur following a significant points deduction.
United are among those clubs that fall into that category. They may not carry the same dominance as the Sir Alex Ferguson era, but the Red Devils have consistently been among the Premier League's elite, and even their worst patches have never sparked serious relegation concerns — until now, perhaps.
As demonstrated last season by Tottenham Hotspur, another 'Big Six' club for whom relegation once seemed unimaginable, a descent into a survival battle is entirely plausible. Spurs escaped the drop by just two points last season, managing only 10 wins from 38 matches. Even this term under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after five games.