Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been handed a lifeline by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – who is still mulling over whether to dismiss the Dutchman. Ten Hag was widely tipped to be shown the door at Old Trafford this summer after the club’s dismal eighth-place finish in the Premier League their worst ever in the division.
However, a triumphant victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final secured a Europa League spot for next season and has given Ratcliffe food for thought. Ratcliffe is spearheading a significant revamp at United, which includes appointing a new chief executive, sporting director and technical director, as well as drastically reducing the club’s staff count.
The petrochemical tycoon, who acquired sporting control of United in a £1.3 billion deal for 27.7% of the club, is confident he can steer the ship back on course. However, the decision regarding Ten Hag’s future isn’t as cut-and-dried as it initially appeared, as reported by the Manchester Evening News this week.
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Currently on holiday, Ten Hag may have been bracing for bad news, aware that Ratcliffe and his INEOS team, including Sir Dave Brailsford and United’s interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, are conducting a post-season review. But they are taking their time with the decision.
The close of the season has given the INEOS thought leaders a moment of respite, as they communicated with the agents of potential successors for Ten Hag. Ratcliffe’s remarks, made post his acquisition of United in February, explain INEOS’ methodical approach to making decisions.
“We have to be careful we don’t rush at it in a way,” he said. “You don’t want to run to the wrong solution rather than walk to the correct solution.”
With a remaining year on his contract, Ten Hag frequently attributes United’s poor league performance to squad injuries. Post a triumphant win at Wembley, the 54-year-old expressed determinedly: “If they don’t want me any more, I go somewhere else and win trophies, that’s what I’ve done my whole career.”
This victory seems to have instigated a change of perception about the team, courtesy of the goals scored by 19-year-olds Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, spotlighting an optimistic prospect.
INEOS have been considering alternatives to Ten Hag, having held discussions with representatives of Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Gareth Southgate and Kieran McKenna in recent weeks. However, McKenna has since removed himself from contention by pledging his future to Ipswich.
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