Manchester United’s co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe, has cast doubt over Erik ten Hag’s future at the club, admitting that the team is not performing as expected under the Dutch manager. Despite having a chance to dismiss rumors of Ten Hag’s potential dismissal, Ratcliffe’s comments have raised concerns about the manager’s job security.
United’s dismal start to the season, with only two wins in six Premier League matches, has put Ten Hag under immense pressure. The team’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham and their failure to hold onto a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League have further intensified the scrutiny on the manager.
Ratcliffe, who took charge of United’s football operations in February, refused to guarantee Ten Hag’s future, stating that the decision would be made by the club’s management team, including sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada. He emphasized that the team has only been together for a short period and needs time to make sensible decisions.
“Our objective is very clear, we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously,” Ratcliffe said.
Ten Hag’s tenure at United has been turbulent, with the team finishing eighth in the Premier League last season. Despite leading United to an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, the club’s poor start to this season has raised questions about his ability to turn things around.
Ratcliffe’s comments have added to the uncertainty surrounding Ten Hag’s future. The manager will be hoping to turn things around in United’s upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday. However, the pressure on him is mounting, and the club’s hierarchy will be closely monitoring the team’s performance in the coming weeks.
