by Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag remains in limbo with the club yet to make a decision on his future. The Dutchman looked set to be sacked at the end of the season but the former Ajax boss may have been spared the sack in a stunning FA Cup win at Manchester City.
It is understood that United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls football operations at Old Trafford, could move on from Ten Hag as Ineos Group began their review of the club’s strategy last week. The Manchester Evening News understands that Ineos has analyzed a possible replacement with a well-placed source telling MAN back in February that Ratcliffe is ‘not completely sold’ on Ten Hag.
Despite the FA Cup win, it was a very disappointing campaign for United overall with an eighth place finish coming after a Champions League group stage finish that saw the club bottom of Group A.
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Here, the MEN telling writers debating whether Ten Hag should stay at United or leave the club…
Ciaran King
Despite winning the FA Cup to end a bad season, United should make it to Ten Hag. Although the Dutchman has faced his fair share of concerns outside the field including Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and uncertainty about takeover, finishing eighth with a club number of Premier League losses (14) unacceptable.
It would be better to dismiss United Ten Hag and rebuild with someone like Mauricio Pochettino, who has experience working with young players and improving the club’s fortunes – as he did with Chelsea. That, along with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS revamping their football operations, would give United a major boost.
Isaac Johnson
The fact that Erik ten Hag’s future has yet to be decided shows that this is a close call. There are other options out there including Mauricio Pochettino, who was one of the candidates before Ten Hag got the nod in 2022.
Comments that will not help the current manager’s cause are his blaming the former hierarchy for overpaying for transfers. He hardly paints an ‘all together’ picture, that’s the atmosphere Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to create.
Two trophy lifts have to count for something, as would two wins over Manchester City and Liverpool during his tenure – but United lost to Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest in their worst ever Premier League season, and it was almost embarrassing them at Championship side Coventry in the FA Cup. semi-finals. Ratcliffe has laid down the gauntlet and an elite force has replaced the board for the long term – Ten Hag does not seem to be of that level after two years of evidence.
Oliver Jones
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS crew have made a big decision. This is not just about the future of Erik ten Hag, it is about the future of Manchester United.
I think it would be a real shame to let the Dutchman go after a strong two year spell in the Old Trafford dugout. Despite shaky runs during the season just gone, Europa League football was secured by a dramatic FA Cup win over rivals Manchester City and for many, that was Ten Hag’s salvation.
But his impressive results in the previous season, a successful Carabao Cup run and a third-place finish in the Premier League, showed he could get results with the right players at his disposal. The transfer ideology may need to be reworked, but Ten Hag has already proven himself as a big game manager when he needs to be and sacking him for the unknown may be the wrong decision.
Keifer Macdonald
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have all made moves, but Manchester United appear to be in limbo as they decide Erik ten Hag’s future as manager. The Dutchman has had a complicated two-year reign at Old Trafford and before last month’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, it seemed to everyone that, regardless of the result, he would soon be parting ways with the club after the final whistle.
However, it was not to be, and in the days following that stunning 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side, radio silence from new Old Trafford bosses INEOS seems to suggest that Ten Hag could be given one last chance to go affected by. third season at the helm. With United’s performance against Wembley among them, led by young guns Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo – two youngsters who have excelled under the Ten Hens – the Dutchman may deserve one last chance at the hood Old Trafford management to break.
Tom Coley
The fact that no decision has been made about the future of Ten Hag seems to be telling, and frankly it’s very exciting. Although no one can argue that he has settled the team well there are also issues that loom large over him.
If Ineos and Sir Jim Radcliffe think they can provide Ten Hag with a better foundation to build from, then this summer will be a more thought-out decision and a final chance for the manager than most at United for a few years now.
Tyrone Marshal
It’s now 12 days since United lifted the FA Cup at Wembley and we still don’t know if Erik ten Hag is staying or going. Ineos promised a thorough end-of-season review after that surprise win under the arch but this is starting to feel less like a detailed process and more like dithering.
It was expected earlier this week that an announcement could come either way at the end of the week. For now, the wait continues.
Ten Hag will want a decision on his future sooner rather than later and will also need clarity on transfer targets and players considering their futures. United need to deliver on that and start planning for next season, rather than looking in the rearview mirror.
The longer it goes on the more one feels that United may be leaning towards keeping Ten Hag. If he stays, a new contract should be on the table and the job title could also be changed. It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag is willing to agree to the terms.
Either way, the clock is ticking and Ineos must start looking forward and not backward.
George Smith
I have supported Erik ten Hag’s corner during this period of uncertainty and will continue to do so on this occasion as well. The Dutchman battled an unprecedented injury crisis in the 2023/24 season which directly contributed to a sub-par League campaign.
Ten Hag were very successful in winning the FA Cup, but proved that they are still capable of undermining this squad. When Ineos forgets about a decision they believe that too.
If they wanted to change, they would have done it by now, surely? It will be almost two weeks since the final and pre-season plans start to rise before you know it – the start of the transfer window is also just eight days away.
Isaac Seelochan
Ten Hag deserves more respect and the success of his first season has been completely forgotten after a campaign in which he had to deal with a major injury crisis. Those questioning why United conceded so many shots in 23/24 need only look at the many centre-back combinations Ten Hag were forced into using midfielders like Casemiuro .
However, despite the cup-winning success, there is no clear style of play after two seasons in charge and injuries are no excuse for that. Ten Hag may have had to fight fires in his second season in charge but a clearer recognition on the pitch will have given him more freedom.
Ten Hag is often unfairly labeled United’s issues but his biggest flaw is his inability to get United playing with a clear identity. I seriously doubt if the Dutchman will be able to turn this season around so I would argue that a fresh start is needed.
What the pundits have said
There has been so much chatter around Ten Hag’s future recently, with United legends Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane their speech. Darts sensation even Little Lukeenthusiastic United fans who were recently awarded the Premier League winner of the competition, have offered their verdict.
“I want him to stay no matter what. Even if we lose (the FA Cup final),” said Littler. “If you look down the line of managers we’ve had like Louis van Gaal who won the FA Cup and was sacked after a season, I think Jose Mourinho was the only one who had two or three years. David Moyes, he only had ten months.
“So I think we should keep it, because we’ve been getting these managers for a year or two and they’re not doing anything. So if we give them time things could change.
“I like what he does, give him time. Give him next season and if he doesn’t do it right, let him go.”
Rooney agrees, recently saying Ten Hag should be kept at United and laying the blame at the door of the recruitment team. “When you’re losing games the way they’re going to lose games, there’s going to be big questions,” he said.
“I would personally hope that they give him time, there are many problems with recruitment, he has not been good for a few years. “I hope he will find time to do it properly. But we saw it in 2016 when Van Gaal lost his job, so you never know.”
Keane also believes Ten Hag deserves a third year at United, adding: “The experienced players haven’t done enough, there’s been too many injuries and I understand where he’s coming from. return
“You’re still summarizing all that, but you look at the record, the amount of games they’ve lost, the goals they’ve conceded, the lack of goals they’ve scored, their position in the league, minus two or three goals, all of these things are not good to look at but you hope it will be given another chance in the summer.
“They need to go out and buy maybe four or five top players. They need a couple of centre-halves, a couple of strikers, someone in midfield – it’s a long way back for this football club.”
