It took only three league games, but the questions over Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United are already back like they never left.
The Liverpool defeat at home had the noise reaching levels of crescendo and the next game away to newly-promoted Southampton already has an air of “must-win” around it.
Erik ten Hag has been quick to point towards the two trophies his team has won the last two seasons, the latter of which arguably saved his job.
Ineos gave him a contract extension in the summer and amidst renewed questions on his job security, Nicky Butt has delivered a straight-talking verdict.
Nicky Butt on Erik ten Hag’s future
Ineos, or even Ten Hag himself made no effort to hide the fact that multiple managers were contacted in the summer for the job at Old Trafford.
It was a unique way of communication when talks with other managers, while the incumbent was on holiday, were admitted publicly.
Ultimately, Ten Hag took great pride in announcing himself that Ineos told him after talking to other options that they already had the best man for the job.
That is why Nicky Butt has now urged Ineos to be decisive and stick to their guns, pointing a “madness
scenario.
He said: “The manager’s put a squad together that’s gonna have to learn the way of playing and be successful.
“I think we were probably the only big football club in the world that didn’t have a sporting director, didn’t have certain things in place but now we have.
“So hopefully there’s no excuses but it will take time. You might have put a squad together but you can’t expect them to go on the pitch and be dominant. We’re gonna have to be patient but long is that gonna take, I don’t know.
“I think if they gave him an extension and they kept him on, they have got to give him time, otherwise, get rid of him in the summer. It’s madness to get rid of him in November, December, or January because unless they have got someone waiting, which quite obviously they haven’t, they would have done it in the summer.
They have got to stand by him, they have got to give him a bit of time and hopefully, he will get it right over the next few months.”
Striking a balance is important
Butt makes a valid point that unless someone who wasn’t on the market has suddenly become available, it would be extremely bad optics for Ineos to sack Ten Hag.
Even more so because of Ten Hag’s claim of Ineos telling him they have the best man for the job and the market not having changed since.
A loud backing of that level can’t be undone by a few bad results and although the scrutiny is understandable, Ineos have backed themselves into a corner when it comes to pulling the trigger.
Moreover, the point about letting it play out and seeing how the team develops is also a pertinent one. Even though this is Ten Hag’s third year, he’s effectively starting at a new club due to the structural changes with a team that has five new faces.
Therefore, this year might be one where Ineos have to ride it out regardless of what happens on the pitch, barring some unforeseen free-fall in results and performances.
However, it is up to Ten Hag to make sure he’s in the dugout next year. So far, he hasn’t been making a very strong case for himself.
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