Erik ten Hag has received strong support from Manchester United’s leadership, but his job security may be more fragile than it seems.
The club’s backing of the Dutch manager, highlighted by new CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, follows INEOS’s decision to extend his contract this summer. However, this support comes with high expectations.
Manchester United have invested heavily in the squad, spending £200 million ($262m) on new players, including Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax.
The backroom staff has also been revamped with the addition of Dutch assistants Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rene Hake, and goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar. These changes were made because INEOS believed it was unfair to judge Ten Hag when the club’s infrastructure was flawed.
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No more excuses for Ten Hag
With the upgrades in both the squad and the club’s structure, the pressure is now on Ten Hag to deliver results. If the team’s poor start to the season continues, the only change left to make may be at the managerial level.
Although no one at the club is panicking yet, there is an understanding that poor performances cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.
Casemiro’s situation is another point of contention. The veteran midfielder, who was blamed for United’s defeat to Liverpool, has been on the club’s transfer list for some time.
🚨 One of the main reasons Ten Hag kept his job was because INEOS recognised that it was unfair to judge the 54-year-old when the infrastructure around him was deemed to be flawed. [@ChrisWheelerDM] #mufc pic.twitter.com/uSTkCwWzeP
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) September 4, 2024
However, his hefty £375,000-a-week wages have made it difficult to find a buyer, even in the cash-rich Saudi Arabian league. With Manuel Ugarte now in the squad, Casemiro’s place in the starting lineup could be in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has invested £1.3 billion ($1.7b) to acquire a 27.7% stake in Manchester United, has been keeping a close eye on the team’s progress. He has chosen to document this new era with a video diary and a book by former Times sports writer Matt Dickinson.
Unlike other Premier League clubs, United have decided not to sell the rights to this footage to streaming giants like Amazon or Netflix. This decision could prove wise, especially if Ten Hag’s tenure takes a turn for the worse.
As the season progresses, the pressure on Ten Hag will only intensify. While the club has shown faith in him, the demands of Manchester United mean that results are the ultimate measure of success. If the team doesn’t start winning soon, even the strongest backing may not be enough to save his job.