Amid the continued radio silence surrounding Erik ten Hag’s fate at Manchester United, is there perhaps a reason why there is yet to be any official confirmation of the Dutchman’s future?
A reason we haven’t really considered, but yet might explain why this drawn-out saga is still ongoing.
Understandably, Ineos may have reservations about sacking Erik ten Hag without a replacement ready to step into the breach almost immediately. But, at a time in which the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Roberto de Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino are all out of work, why are Manchester United waiting so long?
That FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City – potentially Ten Hag’s glorious last act as Red Devils coach – came almost a fortnight ago, after all.
United know all too well, however, that just because a man has left his club, that does not mean he is free to start work in a new environment straight away. Omar Berrada won’t officially begin as CEO until July. As for Dan Ashworth, who knows how much longer these discussions will drag on for?
Manchester United have held Mauricio Pochettino talks
One former Chelsea defender wonders if Pochettino – a man with admirers at Ineos – remains unemployed for the simple fact that the terms of his exit from Stamford Bridge are yet to be completely finalised.
The Telegraph reported in May, following the Argentine’s sudden departure, that Pochettino was in line for a ‘significant’ compensation package.
“For me, I am really disappointed that Mauricio Pochettino is not at Chelsea anymore,” Scott Minto, an FA Cup winner with The Blues in 1997, tells talkSPORT (6 June, 11am).
“And I think he is the perfect guy for United. I think it’s more stable in the background (than at Chelsea). I think he can coach youngsters but he can also deal with the egos of senior pros.
“There is a ‘big player culture’ that needs to be changed there. We know that and they know that. But he could be a part of (changing) that.
“The only thing I can think of (why United have not sacked Ten Hag yet) is that maybe Pochettino is having to sort out his settlement with Chelsea. If they can’t get Pochettino, and they think Ten Hag is the next best option, maybe they have to (keep him).”
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea last month
Minto does – probably accurately – point out that if Ineos had decided to retain Ten Hag’s services for at least another season, surely an announcement would have come already.
The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson reported on Wednesday that Man United’s end-of-season review was expected to be completed by the end of this week. As such, we can probably expect to see a photo of Ten Hag accompanied by the word ‘official’ appear on the Red Devils’ social media channels at some point over the next 48 or 72 hours.
Pochettino, despite losing 2-1 at Old Trafford back in December, guided a ragtag Chelsea team of newbies and youngsters to a highly-impressive sixth place finish last season before a breakdown in relations with the club’s Clearlake owners cost him his job.
According to The Telegraph, Man United held talks with Pochettino’s representatives in late-May.
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