Even the most ardent member of the ‘Erik ten Hag Out’ brigade can probably understand the decision Manchester United made at the start of the summer.
At the time, the consensus among large sections of the fanbase was that the Dutchman’s dreadful second season in the Old Trafford dugout could be attributed to a damaging injury record and countless off-field controversies.
After taking Manchester United to third place and a cup in his debut season – and after ending his second with another ‘glorious’ Wembley victory – surely Erik ten Hag deserved to chance to show what he could do with a proper, elite-level footballing structure behind him.
That is, perhaps, the decision Ineos came to as well.
Despite holding talks with numerous managers and showing an interest in many others – Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, Roberto de Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel were considered – Ineos instead opted to extend Ten Hag’s contract by a further 12 months.
Manchester United may face another Erik ten Hag dilemma
“I think what happened was, after the cup final, they were shocked that they won in the way that they did,” Neville tells The Overlap, Ten Hag out-thinking Pep Guardiola to maintain his trophy-a-season record as Man United boss.
“I think the sentiment of what happened in the week after that cup final… United fans are incredibly loyal to all their managers and they wanted Erik ten Hag to be backed and kept.
“They have seen enough managers turfed out over the last ten years. (The fans weer maybe) thinking; ‘It’s not the manager who is the problem. Maybe it’s the structure or the recruitment policy. Why are we getting rid of another manager who was promising before we came?'”
The decision to keep Ten Hag in situ was made a little bit easier, meanwhile, by the lack of genuine stand-out candidates. Would Potter or Southgate have been an upgrade?
What about De Zerbi, his Brighton stint ending with five wins in his final 23 Premier League matches.
And while Thomas Tuchel is a proven, established winner of silverware – picking up trophies at Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and PSG while guiding a limited Chelsea team to Champions League glory – Man United have been burned before when hiring a short-term specialist who does not exactly have a history of paving the way for long-term success.
Ineos considered Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate
“I think there was an element of them listening to the mood music. They sounded out, around that time, I think Potter, Southgate, De Zerbi was mentioned, Tuchel. The mood music around the fans was probably a little bit negative,” adds Neville, an eight-time Premier League champion under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“There is no doubt they were flirting around the market to see what they could see.
“Tuchel comes in, he’s a little bit transactional, he leaves in a couple of years and we are in the same position as maybe Jose. I think, with Southgate, Potter, De Zerbi, maybe there wasn’t the mood from the fans to make them think (of hiring them).
“I think they assessed it. I think, if there had been an unbelievable manager available who 100 per cent could improve Man United beyond what they know Erik ten Hag can, I think they would have done the transaction.
“They couldn’t find one.”
It feels telling that, rather than tying Ten Hag down to a new, long-term deal, Man United instead only triggered an extension clause in his existing contract.
And with The Guardian reporting that there are ‘serious concerns’ growing already amongst a new-look boardroom with regards to Ten Hag’s tactical approach, at least Ineos have already build up contacts and relationships with a number of potential replacements.
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