Manchester United players reportedly learned of Erik ten Hag’s sacking via a WhatsApp message simultaneously to the bombshell news going public on Monday morning. However, the Dutchman is believed to have dropped a subtle hint at his imminent demise after Sunday’s fatal defeat against West Ham United.
United lost 2-1 in controversial circumstances at the London Stadium after VAR Michael Oliver recommended David Coote award the hosts a penalty in stoppage time.
But a record of just four wins in 14 games in all competitions this season was enough to convince INEOS to part ways with Ten Hag, ending a two-and-a-half-year reign.
United missed a flurry of chances in a dominant first half and should’ve entered the break multiple goals to the good before crumbling into familiar habits.
According to The Athletic, the United hierarchy acknowledged that players must ultimately take the blame for their continued wastefulness in front of goal.
However, it’s claimed there was also an acceptance that the manager is, too, responsible due to a lack of motivation and communication.
United are 14th out of 20 teams in the Premier League and 21st out of 36 in the Europa League, forcing chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth to recommend a change.
The report adds that Ten Hag’s actions inside the dressing room after the final whistle, shaking everyone’s hand in defeat, gave players and staff a sense that he knew he was in imminent jeopardy.
United’s executives also gave off that impression after the disastrous 3-0 defeat against Tottenham at Old Trafford, a landmark afternoon in the 54-year-old’s deterioration.
It’s claimed that a group of club chiefs huddled in the directors’ lounge to debrief after Ange Postecoglou’s side ran riot in M16.
That raised suspicions among those present amid a whirlwind of external speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s future.
Last week, Ten Hag bizarrely claimed he was ignoring the ghastly showing and result against Spurs due to Bruno Fernandes’ red card, which was later deemed wrongful by the FA.
“I deny and ignore the game against Spurs because we were down to 10 at 1-0,” the former United boss explained.
“That is not a fair assessment to the team to take this into consideration, because we didn’t have the chance to bounce back.”
United were getting outclassed before that incident, though, and INEOS clearly chose not to ignore it in their assessment tabled to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family.
