As a host of Manchester United legends reacted to the news of Erik ten Hag’s departure, it seems most are alligned with a disilusioned fanbase in accepting that the time had come for a change.
Gary Neville was baffled by Ten Hag’s team selection in Man United’s loss at West Ham – the result which proved to be the final straw for the embattled Dutchman – with £42 million summer signing Manuel Ugarte again watching on from the bench.
Paul Scholes felt that the Red Devils results spoke for themselves. And, while he argues that Erik ten Hag was not helped by a lack of leadership behind the scenes in the pre-Ineos era, Peter Schmeichel accepts that the ex-Ajax boss proved to be ‘a little out of his depth’.
A former team-mate of legendary goalkeeper Schmeichel, meanwhile, argues that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co must take their share of the blame after a disastrous start to a season leaves Manchester United 14th in the Premier League table and 21st in the Europa League.
Andrei Kanchelskis glad to see Erik ten Hag leave Manchester United
“Ten Hag should have been fired last season!,” Andrei Kanchelskis tells Russian publication Sport24. “This dismissal was predictable.
“They won the [FA] Cup with Ten Hag. So what? Manchester United’s performance in the league was deplorable.
“Now, a new coach will come again, there will be new visions, they will buy new players, and they will pay huge amounts of money again.
“They wanted to save on lunches [in Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures], but in the end all this money will be paid to the former head coach.”
There is certainly an irony in the fact that, while United’s new bosses are looking to scrimp and save in every area of the club, Ten Hag is reportedly due a staggering compensation fee of £17 million after being booted out the door only months into the new contract he signed over the summer.
Kanchelskis, a two-time Premier League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s, has been an outspoken critic of the 54-year-old for some time now.
Kanchelskis dreamt of Carlo Ancelotti leaving Real Madrid for Old Trafford back in 2023.
Former Everton and Rangers ace Kanchelskis claimed he had been blocked from entering Man United’s training ground upon a trip to the UK recently too, Ten Hag allegedly keen to keep prying eyes at a distance.
Former United favourite Kanchelskis wants ‘an internship’ at Old Trafford
Speaking following the news of Ten Hag’s dismissal, Kanchelskis again admits that he is keen to return to his old stomping ground as he looks to make his mark off the pitch.
The 55-year-old has worked as a coach and a director at a variety of clubs in Eastern Europe since hanging up his boots.
“I haven’t asked myself that question yet. Time will tell,” Kanchelskis adds. “Maybe I’ll do an internship [at Man United] this winter, if there is such an opportunity.”
Man United are reportedly set to announce Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s replacement.
The aforementioned Neville will certainly be on board with Amorim’s tactical approach, feeling that this United squad is one very well suited to the 39-year-old’s back-three system.
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