Frank Christian
Jim Ratcliffe, a co-owner of Manchester United, refrained from fully endorsing manager Erik ten Hag amidst rumors that the club is considering hiring a new manager from the UEFA Champions League. Ten Hag’s position appears to be increasingly unstable following a tumultuous 3-3 draw in Porto, following a heavy 3-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League.
This Sunday, United will face off against a revitalized Aston Villa, who recently celebrated a thrilling win over Bayern Munich in their Champions League comeback.
Currently, United sits at 13th in the league standings, with an international break approaching, which could prompt the management to re-evaluate Ten Hag’s role.
In a statement to BBC Sport, Ratcliffe praised Ten Hag’s coaching skills but did not offer a vote of confidence.
Ratcliffe’s Remarks on Ten Hag
When asked about his faith in Ten Hag, Ratcliffe responded, “I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I believe he is a very good coach, but ultimately, that decision is not mine to make.
“It falls to the management team of Manchester United to determine the best path forward for the team across various aspects.
“However, the management team has only been together since June or July. They were not here in the earlier months — CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth only began in July.”
“Their time here is short, so they must assess the situation and make prudent decisions.
“Our goal is clear: we aim to restore Manchester United to its former glory, which clearly has not been achieved yet.”
The Status of Ten Hag’s Contract
Despite Ratcliffe’s comments on Berrada and Ashworth’s limited experience, United triggered a one-year extension to Ten Hag’s contract in July, keeping him at the club until 2026.
This decision followed a tumultuous search for a potential successor, and speculation regarding Ten Hag’s future has persisted.
On Friday, Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri reported that the club had approached Inter Milan’s head coach Simone Inzaghi to take over during the international break, but he declined the offer.
Inzaghi, who led Inter to Serie A victory and the Champions League final last season, is considered one of Europe’s top coaches — a status Ten Hag also held before his challenging stint at Old Trafford.
