Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reluctant to sack Erik ten Hag according to reports. United have decided Ten Hag will get at least two more matches after Sunday’s 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham.
The Red Devils were well beaten by Spurs and were being convincingly outplayed even before captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off shortly before half-time.
That has ratcheted up the pressure on Ten Hag just months after INEOS handed him a contract extension. In July, the club triggered a one-year extension to keep the Dutchman in charge until 2026.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth said: “While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also reached a clear conclusion that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in driving up standards and outcomes.
“This group of players and staff have already shown they are capable of competing and winning at the top level; now we need to do it more consistently.
“With our strengthened football leadership team now in place, we are looking forward to working hand-in-hand with Erik to achieve our shared ambitions for this football club.”
Since then, United have won just three of their nine matches across all competitions this season. They have lost back-to-back league games 3-0 at Old Trafford and sit 12th in the Premier League, already eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
According to the Daily Star, Ratcliffe is reluctant to axe Ten Hag after handing him a contract extension.
The 71-year-old will now seek the opinions of his fellow owners the Glazers plus Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada as they decide the next steps for the Red Devils.
They may opt to axe Ten Hag over the upcoming October international break. Before then, United will play Porto away in the Europa League and Aston Villa away in the Premier League, matches Ten Hag will definitely be in charge for.
The Star add that should the former Ajax tactician be dismissed, two of the leading candidates to replace Ten Hag in the long term are Simone Inzaghi the Inter Milan head coach and Gareth Southgate, the former England boss who is now a free agent.
Ten Hag’s assistant and former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who only returned to Old Trafford this summer, is expected to step up to replace him temporarily if the incumbent manager is sacked.
Asked about his future after the defeat to Spurs, Ten Hag said: “No, I am not thinking about this [my future].
“We all made together this decision to stay together, as an ownership, a leadership group in the summer, also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad.
“But we knew it will take some time, how the window went, some players late in like Ugarte. Also, we have to make some improvement in organisation, some injuries, we need some time.
“We are all on one page or in one boat together, the ownership, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.”
