Erik ten Hag will remain manager of Manchester United after the club’s internal season review.
Despite reports last month he was to be sacked regardless of the FA Cup final result, the 2-1 victory over Manchester City appears to have saved Ten Hag’s job.
And after a two-week review of the 2023-24 campaign, the Dutchman will now be offered a contract extension, with his current deal set to expire next summer.
As part of the club review, it was decided Ten Hag will be given less control over recruitment, but he is thrilled to be allowed to continue in his post.
A host of names had been linked with the United job, including Mauricio Pochettino, Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi, while co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with Thomas Tuchel in Monaco last week.
And many believed the FA Cup win would not be enough to sugarcoat a season which included a record-breaking Champions League group stage knockout and the club’s lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth.
But having explored all possibilities, the club have decided to back Ten Hag into the first full season under new minority owners Ineos, who control the club’s footballing operations.
Ten Hag’s 57.9 win percentage since joining the club two seasons ago is the second-highest post-Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, only trailing Jose Mourinho.
The 54-year-old’s case is also backed by the successful first-team integration of academy products Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
And having won the Carabao Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup final in 2023-24, Ratcliffe and co appear to have seen enough to believe the Ten Hag project is worth persevering with.
After the FA Cup final win, Ten Hag said: “Two trophies in two years is not bad. Three finals in two years is not bad. I’m not satisfied with it. We have to do better.
“If they don’t want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do. When I took over, we were in a mess.
The team is developing, the team is winning and the team plays to an identity. But you need a strong squad and the players to be available. When you don’t have players available, you cannot win.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/Izf3CAd
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