Jamie Carragher On Man United Retaining Ten Hag: Liverpool legend and football broadcaster Jamie Carragher has blasted the Manchester United ownership for their decision to retain manager Erik Ten Hag over the summer for yet another season.
The Red Devils, after a dismal 2023-24 season that saw them finish the lowest they have in the Premier League in 15 years (eighth), have gotten off to a poor start to the 2024-25 season in all competitions under Ten Hag.
In their last four matches, United have drawn 0-0 to Crystal Palace, drawn 1-1 to Eredivisie side Twente in the UEFA Europa League, been thrashed by Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, and drawn 3-3 with Porto in Europe. Earlier in the season, this side also lost 3-0 to Liverpool and 2-1 to Brighton.
In February 2024, INEOS CEO Sir James Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% share in the club. And while the Glazer family, Ratcliffe is quite involved with the running of the club and is understood to be personally involved with the investment and changes made into and for the running of the operation.
After finishing eighth in the Premier League last season, there were a lot of rumours that Ten Hag would be sacked. The owners deliberated over the decision but decided not to fire and replace the Dutch manager. This decision might partly have come because United did win the FA Cup, defeating cross-city rivals Manchester City in the final.
Jamie Carragher On Man United Retaining Ten Hag
However, Jamie Carragher, who played over 500 games for Liverpool in his career, believes that retaining Erik ten Hag was a poor decision by the Manchester United ownership. In a column he wrote for the English outlet Telegraph, he had this to say:
“If Manchester United fail to massively improve this season, the ultimate responsibility lies with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos. The latest mess is on their watch, with United already struggling to convince they are equipped to qualify for next year’s Champions League.”
Carragher then went on to write that Ten Hag is a catalyst for yet another failed season for United, which will cost the club a lot in performance and financially as well.
“There is no point sugar-coating it. The new United hierarchy have made a deeply unimpressive start to their Old Trafford reign, with one of their worst decisions being the most important any board can make. Above all, you must ensure you have the right manager. Retaining Ten Hag is proving the catalyst for another wasted campaign and possibly another £200m down the drain,” he wrote.
Finally, Jamie reckoned that the FA Cup win froze the United ownership from making the right decision, writing,
“At first, the noises around the head coach sounded like an astute way of securing a replacement in time for the next pre-season. By the time they decided to keep Ten Hag, it was revealed to be a fudge. Ineos froze after Ten Hag won the FA Cup and took the easy way out by giving him another chance.”
Manchester United will face an in-form Aston Villa in their next game on October 6. Reports have suggested that if the Old Trafford-based team loses that match, Erik Ten Hag will be sacked.
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