Manchester United have made the decision fans thought was a long time by sacking Erik ten Hag although the timing caught many off guard.
After keeping faith in Ten Hag through the international break, they gave him three games before pulling the trigger.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will get four home games on the trot to inject some momentum back into the club before another international break before Ruben Amorim, who has ‘verbally agreed’ to become Man Utd manager comes into the picture.
The team had been floundering for a while under Ten Hag but Ineos kept faith but United in Focus recently spoke to TBR Football’s insider Graeme Bailey, who said things weren’t as straightforward as they looked with Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
When Man Utd decided to sack Erik ten Hag
The decision caught many off guard because it was thought the Dutchman would get at least until the next international break.
Four home games on the trot provided a good pad to build some momentum from but Ineos clearly thought they’d rather have the new manager bounce.
The decision might have come now but Graeme Bailey reports that it was made a long time ago, on September 29, to be exact.
Of course, that is the day United lost to Tottenham at home 0-3 and even though Ten Hag would later say he ‘ignores’ that result because of Bruno Fernandes’ sending-off which was later rescinded, it appears Ineos didn’t have their heads in the sand.
Bailey said: “I was told after the Spurs game they’d already decided that it was time to move on. I understand they have been talking to candidates for the past two weeks. Managers who are in work – so I don’t think we’ll see a long-term interim. I don’t think it will be another Ole situation. I think they know who they want.”
Bailey’s assertion that United ‘know who they want’ is exciting and in line with Ineos trying to be decisive but they have some credit to rebuild after dithering on sacking Ten Hag in the first place.
The factor that doomed Ten Hag
For some time, there were reports that Ten Hag was safe in the job because United could not afford to sack him without taking a PSR hit.
However, those reports were clearly off the mark now that the decision has been made. Graeme Bailey reports that the reason for Ten Hag losing his job was financial, but not in the way it was reported.
He said: “The European thing is a huge deal, not qualifying for the Champions League is huge. It’s a massive concern they’ve got. Now, the best chance of getting in is winning the Europa League and United look miles away from doing that – which I believe has really weighed into his sacking.”
United are, of course, ‘miles away’ from winning the Europa League as things stand. They are in 21st place in the league standings after three draws in three games and need to win their remaining five games to qualify for the next round directly, avoiding playoffs.
Ten Hag won’t be the man to oversee that potential recovery, starting with a home game against PAOK on November 7.
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