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Erik ten Hag’s job is reportedly on the line should things at Manchester United fail to improve in the near future.
After finishing in eighth place last season and exiting the Champions League at the group stage, many fans were left disenchanted with the current manager.
A surprising FA Cup triumph against rivals Manchester City did garner significant support amongst numerous fans of the club for the Dutchman and after carrying out an internal review, new owners Ineos decided to keep him after weeks of doubt.
After eventually backing Ten Hag, United spent heavily in the summer window, bringing in five senior squad signings. In pre-season they showed some promising displays of possession-based football.
Nonetheless, the narrow 1-0 win versus Fulham and two consecutive defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool have once more put serious pressure on the former Ajax coach.
As a result, Givemesport report that “the FA Cup final win over Manchester City certainly helped paper over the cracks” at the club and “the spell after this international break will become key in identifying whether Ten Hag truly does have longevity in this role.”
“Sources are suggesting that while it is ‘moments’ that have kept him alive in the Manchester United hot-seat, the consistency, identity and style of play will become a more bold marker of how he is judged going forward.”
It is stated that United would rather avoid the drama of having to sack yet another manager but “well-informed figures around Old Trafford seem in no doubt that his job will be on the line if things do not improve.”
Nonetheless, it is stressed that there will be “no knee-jerk decision” on his future right now despite the insipid defeat to Liverpool last Sunday.
There is hope that a kinder fixture list in September, players returning to fitness and new players bedding in will help turn the tide at the club.
It is also interesting to note that despite receiving the public backing of both CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director, Dan Ashworth, both were keen in a recent interview with The Athletic to suggest that they had nothing to do with the decision to extend Ten Hag’s contract this summer.
Whilst it is clear that United have no appetite to sack their manager just yet, if after the international break they return in a similar vein of form to the one they are in at the moment, the threat of the sack will only continue to dominate the airwaves for Ten Hag.
It has also been reported in some parts that Thomas Tuchel is INEOS’ first choice to replace the manager and as he is currently without a job, so he could be patiently waiting in the wings for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and company to pull the trigger on Ten Hag’s time at United.
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