Erik ten Hag is expected to be in charge for Manchester United’s next match against Brentford, with the club operating at “business as usual”.
The Tuesday meeting between the club’s major power brokers in London, one where Ten Hag’s future was high on the agenda after overseeing United’s worst start to a Premier League season, concluded with the Dutchman still in a job.
Sources said Ten Hag, who is on holiday until next week, is continuing with his preparations for United’s next match – at Old Trafford against Brentford on 19 October – and there is no change on whether his position is under threat.
Very little detail is known about what was said in the six-hour long meeting between majority shareholder Joel Glazer, new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, sporting director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Omar Berrada, technical director Jason Wilcox, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell.
Despite several sources insisting the meeting was long scheduled, as part of Ineos’ pledge to review performance on a more regular basis, the fact Glazer had jetted in from Florida and Ratcliffe from Barcelona to join all the senior United’s executives at Ineos’ Knightsbridge offices felt significant.
That is because of the start Ten Hag and his team have made this season, taking just eight points from their opening seven matches.
Ten Hag, however, appears set to be given more time, but with the insistence that results must improve.
The under-pressure United boss unexpectedly survived being part of a club-wide cull by new co-owners Ineos in the summer, with a host of other candidates spoken to about becoming the next coach before the new overlords elected to give Ten Hag more time.
That list of possible alternatives remains for Ineos to turn to if improvement is not forthcoming.
Given it is likely to cost around £15m to sack Ten Hag in the coming weeks, one of those it will cost nothing to appoint – Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate or even current assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy – are likely to be the first to be contacted, if change is indeed brought about.
After the Brentford clash, United face a tough trip to Fenerbahce in the Europa League, where the Turkish side’s boss, a certain Jose Mourinho, will be more than happy to hammer the final nail into Ten Hag’s coffin.
