Gary Neville ‘shocked’ by one of Erik ten Hag’s final lineup decisions, thinks Ineos should have been puzzled

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Manchester United have parted ways with Erik ten Hag less than 24 hours after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham United.

All eyes are now on Ineos as they move to appoint their first manager at Manchester United.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham United has proven to be the end for Erik ten Hag just months after Ineos backed the Dutchman.

United lost in controversial circumstances as a dubious late penalty handed West Ham the win.

That did not buy Ten Hag any more time though as Ineos decided to swing the axe on Monday morning.

Ten Hag has moved on after more than years in the United job and it’s a decision many feel should have been made at the end of last season.

• READ MORE: Bruno Fernandes breaks silence first as Erik ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United manager

Gary Neville ‘shocked’ by Erik ten Hag decision

Ten Hag leaves with United in 14th place in the Premier League table and without a win in three Europa League games.

That just isn’t good enough and Gary Neville has offered his verdict on his sacking.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville admitted that he was ‘shocked’ to see Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in midfield against West Ham United.

Summer signing Manuel Ugarte was benched at the London Stadium and Neville was left baffled.

Neville feels that, whilst Ugarte hasn’t dazzled so far, he is supposed to be the heir to Casemiro – not sitting on the bench behind him.

Neville added that he ‘would be asking questions’ of Ten Hag if he were the United owners, given that Ineos stumped up £42.2million rising to £50million to sign Ugarte on deadline day.

“Yesterday, I was shocked to see Eriksen and Casemiro in central midfield and Ugarte on the bench,” said Neville.

“Ugarte was brought in as the successor to Casemiro and, obviously, he’s not started brilliantly, but I think things like that, if I was an owner looking at that, I would think ‘well hang on a minute, these two in midfield are getting on in age’ and you’ve got a lad that’s been brought in for 40-odd million quid who’s got legs, I would be asking questions around that as an owner,” he added.

• READ: Who is Manuel Ugarte? Everything you need to know on Uruguay midfielder

Lost chance for Ugarte momentum

Ugarte’s start to life at Old Trafford has not exactly been perfect.

The Uruguayan struggled against Tottenham Hotspur and has so far failed to nail down a starting role.

Ugarte impressed against Fenerbahce on Thursday night though with Paul Scholes suggesting that he enjoyed his best performance in a United shirt.

The natural inclination after that display would have been for Ugarte to start against West Ham and attempt to build up some momentum in a United shirt.

Instead, Ten Hag left Ugarte on the bench and will have surely frustrated the former Paris Saint-Germain ace in the process.

United’s next manager must look to get the best out of Ugarte after such a considerable investment – and make him a key part of United’s midfield for years to come.