If football had playwrights, the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium would be the ideal theatre to stage the latest episode in the thickening plot surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford.
When the Europa League draw was made, eyes were immediately drawn to Manchester United’s trip to Fenerbahce, which takes them to that venue on Thursday.
Europe has not been kind to United so far this season. With draws against FC Twente and Porto, their opening two fixtures highlighted the real frailties of Ten Hag’s side. In both games United took the lead before collapsing to share the spoils.
In their most recent outing against Porto, Ten Hag’s side were two goals up after 20 minutes but ended the half on level terms after shipping two goals in seven minutes. A third Porto goal after the break meant United had to rely on sub Harry Maguire to head home an equaliser in injury time.
While Christmas has certainly not come early for Ten Hag, Scrooge-like echoes of his past and warnings of the future that await in Istanbul lend to the ‘spooky’ season United have had thus far. It is those ‘ghosts’ that Ten Hag will have to negotiate to claim his side’s first Europa League win of the season.
Ghost of the past – Dusan Tadic
At a time when his current crop of players have had their mentality doubted, Dusan Tadic is symbolic of a joyous past for Ten Hag, a reminder of what management, cohesion and promise used to be before his move to Manchester. Tadic has been playing his football at Fenerbahce since he left Ajax in 2023.
At Ajax, Ten Hag was responsible for turning Tadic from a mid-table player at Southampton, whose highlight on the south coast was a League Cup final defeat in 2017, to one of Europe’s finest forwards, performing in the latter stages of the Champions League.
The Serb was a stalwart of Ten Hag’s Ajax side who captured the hearts and minds of onlookers during their 2018/19 Champions League campaign. Playing every minute of that campaign, Tadic’s six goals and five assists helped Ajax reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in over two decades.
Tadic stands out as Ten Hag’s most-used outfield player of his career and he entrusted him with the Ajax captaincy in 2019 following the departure of Matthijs de Ligt that summer.
It was Tadic’s versatility that made Ten Hag favour him so much, as he was able to play across the front line as well as deeper in midfield to create as well as score goals. During their time together, Tadic scored a total of 92 goals and set up 91, winning three consecutive league titles.
Ten Hag called Tadic “the most professional player” he had worked with, complementing both his availability and leadership while on punditry duty for Dutch television during Euro 2024.
It is those traits that Tadic has carried to Fenerbahce where the 35-year-old has scored six and set up seven in 14 games across all competitions.
Ghosts of the present – Fred and Amrabat
Both Fred and Sofyan Amrabat’s respective arrivals at Old Trafford came with an expectation that they would help bring balance to United. While the questions continue about the quality of United’s midfield, despite their times in Manchester not crossing over, Fred and Amrabat have formed a solid partnership in Istanbul.
Signed by current Fenerbahce and former United boss Jose Mourinho for £52m, Fred was a player who won fans over for his industry on the pitch. While his ability divided opinion among United fans, Fred ended his spell at Old Trafford having played 213 games for the club, topped off with a League Cup win in his final season.
Fred’s final season at United was Ten Hag’s first at the club and the Brazilian made 56 appearances, scoring six times including a goal in United’s victory against Barcelona in the Europa League play-offs.
The midfielder has enjoyed a resurgent spell in Turkey, playing a key part in the club’s 17-match unbeaten run last season. This campaign he netted his first career hat-trick during a 5-0 victory against Rizespor.
Amrabat arrived following Fred’s departure in August 2023 and in many ways was touted as a replacement for the Brazilian.
On loan from Fiorentina, Amrabat endured an up-and-down spell during his time in Manchester failing to pin down a discernible role in the team. Amrabat’s spell at United was the second time the midfielder had worked with Ten Hag with the pair working together at Utrecht.
The 28-year-old notably started in United’s Wembley FA Cup triumph against Manchester City in May replacing Casemiro who was omitted from the matchday squad.
He was heavily linked with a return to Old Trafford in the summer, but a move never transpired. The Morocco international has made six appearances for Fenerbahce so far this season and will be intent on showing his former temporary employers what they are missing.
Ghost of what is yet to come – Jose Mourinho
Mourinho cut a miserable figure as his sacking drew closer at United. His press conferences failed to inspire and Old Trafford lost the vibrancy that welcomed his arrival. If Ten Hag fails to turn things around, he will walk a similar path to his Portuguese predecessor. When Fenerbahce and United meet, Ten Hag will shake hands with what he could become.
“I think he is an example for many, many managers,” Ten Hag said when asked about taking on Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
“I really enjoy facing him and playing against him. He has always good teams, he is a winner – he [has] won so many trophies.”
Mourinho called his second-place finish with United in 2018 his greatest managerial achievement. Given the fact that it is a feat yet to be bettered by two permanent bosses since, his point arguably still stands to this day.
The pantomime villain is a role that Mourinho enjoys and there will be a chip on his shoulder as Ten Hag has been afforded what Mourinho was not. Be it patience or the freedom to make big decisions regarding squad personnel, Ten Hag has benefited from a changed hierarchy willing to allow the manager to leave a stamp on their side.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss will have noise of his own to quieten when Fenerbahce host United. His side sit eight points behind league leaders and bitter rivals Galatasaray domestically.
Mourinho has assembled a team with familiar faces including Edin Dzeko, who has scored nine goals against United in 11 games for three different clubs including a double in Manchester City’s famous 6-1 victory at Old Trafford in 2011. He has scored nine goals and set up two in 14 games this season.
Former Newcastle man Allan Saint-Maximin and Youssef En-Nesyri are also memorable foes, with the latter scoring a double to knock United out of the Europa League in 2023, when Sevilla beat Ten Hag’s United in the quarter-finals that season.
Something says Mourinho will be relishing the opportunity to increase the heat on his successor while also giving the current United boss a forecast of what could come by possibly bringing an end to his Old Trafford tenure closer.