A decision on Erik ten Hag’s future as Manchester United head coach is likely to be made within the next week, according to a report.
A decision on Erik ten Hag‘s future at Manchester United is reportedly likely to be made within the next week.
The Red Devils finished down in eighth position in last season’s Premier League table, which represented their worst-ever campaign in the current format, but the team did lift the FA Cup trophy at the end of May.
The 2-1 success over Manchester City at Wembley also secured a spot in the group stage of the 2024-25 Europa League, representing an excellent finish to a difficult season.
Ten Hag’s future has been the subject of speculation over the last few months, with Man United’s new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe giving serious consideration to making a change in the dug-out.
According to Sky Sports News, a final decision from Ratcliffe and his INEOS team has not yet been made, but a call is imminent, with Ten Hag expected to learn his fate next week.
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Ten Hag ‘could lose Man United job next week’
Ten Hag is currently on holiday, while a number of his players preparing to represent their countries at this summer’s European Championship and Copa America.
Man United’s pre-season schedule will begin on July 15 against Rosenborg in Norway, before the team travel to the United States for their tour.
According to ESPN, the end-of-season review, which is being led by INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, has been ongoing since the FA Cup final at the end of last month.
The report claims that a decision on Ten Hag’s future had initially been expected this week, but the situation will not be resolved until next week at the earliest.
INEOS are allegedly not prepared to rush what is a huge decision, with a number of factors still being weighed up, including the availability of potential replacements.
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Should Man United keep Ten Hag?
England’s Gareth Southgate continues to be linked with the role, but there will not be an update on his potential availability until after this summer’s European Championship.
Man United simply cannot wait until after Euro 2024 to make a call, while talk of potential moves for Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino have quietened in recent days.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank is said to be admired, as is ex-Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi, but the lack of an obvious replacement for Ten Hag is a concern.
The Dutchman spoke on a number of occasions last season about the club’s injury problems harming their performances, and he was able to guide the team to a famous FA Cup victory when some of his key players returned to fitness.
It was a challenging season across the board for Man United, but Ten Hag has now won two trophies since his arrival as head coach, and the Dutchman should be backed by the Red Devils this summer, as the constant change at Old Trafford has proven to be extremely damaging.