Erik ten Hag has declared that Manchester United's relegation from the Premier League this season is "certainly possible," issuing a stark warning about the crisis engulfing his former club.

United slipped to 17th in the table after a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday — a result that heaped further pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. Only goal difference is keeping the club above the drop zone.

A once-unthinkable prospect

The club has not been relegated since 1974, yet they now face the grim reality of a relegation battle. Their next two league fixtures — against Aston Villa and Liverpool — arrive at a critical moment.

Ten Hag, speaking on ESPN NL's Goedemorgen Eredivisie, was candid about the dangers lurking in the lower reaches of the table. "In the Premier League it's certainly possible, 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."

Ten Hag defends his United record

The Dutchman was in charge at Old Trafford from April 2022 to November 2024. He guided United to a third-place finish in his debut season, before the club dropped to eighth the following year. He was sacked in November 2024 with United sitting in 14th place.

Despite that difficult exit, Ten Hag stood by his legacy at the club. "I think we performed pretty well with United," he said. "Before we arrived, six years without winning a trophy. Look where they are now. We were at Wembley six times, we played two FA Cup finals. We won 2 trophies, we finished third."

His honours at Old Trafford include the Carabao Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup the season after. He also touched on Cristiano Ronaldo's application and fitness during their time together, though he reflected broadly on a tenure he clearly views with pride.

Ten Hag now serves as technical director at Dutch side FC Twente, but United's deepening troubles appear never far from his mind. "The Premier League is so strong," he added, "and when you hit a difficult spell, yes, then you really have a problem."