Ten Hag insists Man Utd have plenty to play for after European exit
Sir Jim Ratcliffe could make a dramatic U-turn to annoy Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani shortly after his £1.3billion deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United is ratified. Erik ten Hag’s uncertain future at Old Trafford summarises the staggering 180-degree turn his reputation has suffered this season.
Ten Hag was widely considered the perfect candidate to end United’s decade-long manager hoodoo after Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 retirement.
For the first time since the iconic Scot, the Red Devils had appointed an up-and-coming boss who already carried pedigree at the highest level.
His successful maiden season in charge heightened hope that he would be the man to take the club back where Sir Alex ensured they belonged.
That optimism spread throughout the club and beyond. In March, the Mirror reported that United were drawing up a contract extension less than a year into Ten Hag’s initial deal.
The Dutchman signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford last summer but was due to be rewarded for the progress he had made in such a short period of time.
The report added that leading bidders at the time, Sir Jim and Sheikh Jassim, shared confidence in Ten Hag to continue his success and return the glory days to M16.
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But after lifting the Carabao Cup, reaching the FA Cup final and finishing third in the Premier League, things have quickly unravelled for Ten Hag.
He has overseen one of the worst starts to a season in United’s storied history, which has included defeats in half of their 24 games in all competitions.
Many supporters are sticking behind Ten Hag after seeing patience rewarded through Mikel Arteta’s upwards trajectory at Arsenal after years of underperformance.
Sheikh Jassim – a boyhood United fan – may be among the majority keen for Ten Hag to receive time.
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However, recent reports suggest Sir Jim may have lost faith in the 53-year-old, performing a U-turn on his positive stance nine months ago.
The Sun claim that Sir Jim has already met former Chelsea manager Graham Potter after identifying him as his preferred replacement should he sack Ten Hag.
The Telegraph add that while Ten Hag is safe under the current hierarchy, he could become vulnerable once the INEOS founder inherits sporting control from the Glazer family.
While Sir Jim is thought to be investing in his beloved United as a passion project, he will be keen to see a strong return on his decision. And if poor results continue, he may be left with no choice but to pull the plug.
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