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Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have both denied involvement in the decision to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract at the club.
Images of United’s new sporting team looking rather glum were flooded all over the internet after the side’s toothless 0-3 defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Three points in the opening three games and a penalty shootout loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield have already darkened the mood around Old Trafford after the optimism of a positive summer in regard to signings and sales.
The beginning of June was awash with rumours of Ten Hag’s future but it was finally announced he would be staying at the club and would have his contract extended a further year until 2026.
In an interview with The Athletic, two of United’s biggest hitters in the new sporting team have distanced themselves from the decision.
On the surface all seems well. As would be expected, they have publicly backed the manager with Berrada stating, “we’re very happy with that decision (to keep Ten Hag). Erik has our full backing and we have worked very closely together — as Dan said before — in this transfer window. We’re going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results out of the team.”
Ashworth also claimed, “I’ve really enjoyed working with Erik for the last eight weeks. I see my job is to support him in every way I possibly can.”
Nonetheless, it must be stated that this interview was carried out before the pathetic surrender to Liverpool on Sunday evening.
In an interesting twist however both Berrada and Ashworth claim the decision had little to do with them and appeared keen to separate themselves from the contract renewal.
The CEO stated, “in terms of the contract, that was a decision that was taken prior to both of our arrivals.”
Ashworth added in response to the question to what influence he had over the decision, “I didn’t start until July 1, so none whatsoever.”
This makes sense as the decision to keep Ten Hag was taken in June, before both men took up their post in July. Therefore it is plausible to speculate that Sir Dave Brailsford, who has recently taken more of a backseat in regard to football operations at the club, was more involved in the decision to keep Ten Hag.
While Berrada and Ashworth may seem to be publicly backing Ten Hag, as you would expect them to in the interests of professionalism, it is very interesting to note that they both stress they weren’t involved in the process. If they were truly content with Ten Hag, it would seem an odd decision to so publicly claim they had nothing to do with it.
If poor results and performances continue to rack up after the international break for the former Ajax man, the noose will inevitably continue to tighten.
The fact that United’s two biggest decision makers seem to be distancing themselves already from the manager certainly does not bode well for his long-term future at Old Trafford.
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