Erik ten Hag ‘goes on holiday’ and ‘believes he will keep his job’ as Man United chiefs gather to discuss the future of under-pressure Dutchman
Erik ten Hag has reportedly gone on holiday and has minimal qualms about his future despite Manchester United‘s top brass meeting to discuss his future.
The Dutchman spoke to United’s leadership team after the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday and apparently came away feeling assured his job was not under immediate threat.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe gathered the club’s kingpins as well as Gary Neville at Old Trafford for talks on Monday afternoon, with Ten Hag’s future high on the agenda. The board will also attend a pre-planned meeting in London on Tuesday.
It comes amid their worst start ever to a Premier League season, with United 14th on eight points after seven games and faltering in the Europa League.
All the same, Ten Hag has taken the liberty of a holiday during the international break, according to ESPN.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly taken himself on holiday as Man United chiefs discuss his future
The United boss had a sunny break this summer with his family after winning the FA Cup
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is gathering the club’s top brass, with Ten Hag’s future one discussion point
Ten Hag reportedly met bosses after the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa and came away feeling as if he would keep his job
Ten Hag will be hoping for kinder treatment than former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked in March 2023 after jetting off on a skiing holiday.
He has won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his two full seasons at Old Trafford and has insisted on these successes as a sign of United’s progress under him.
However, having lost 3-0 to Tottenham the Sunday before last, a week in which United have drawn 3-3 with Porto – squandering a 3-3 lead – and 0-0 with Villa has done little to quell criticism.
Ratcliffe was pictured arriving at Old Trafford earlier today with Ten Hag’s future and the £2billion stadium among the discussion points for the meeting with Joel Glazer and other head honchos.
It’s understood they are in no rush to make that decision and sources say that no major developments are expected on Monday.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched United’s goalless draw with Aston Villa on Sunday along with director Sir Dave Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Discussions over Ten Hag’s future continued into Monday and it will be on the agenda again when co-chairman Glazer, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell join them for the executive committee meeting on Tuesday.
The talks come ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled board meeting in London. The club must decide whether to stand by Ten Hag or take advantage of the international break by changing manager.
Ratcliffe was pictured arriving for talks on Monday, with a pre-planned meeting expected in London on Tuesday
With chaos in the air in Manchester, Sir Jim was pictured strolling into United’s home ground on Monday for crunch meetings with Joel Glazer
Former United player Gary Neville was also spotted entering Old Trafford on Monday
United are wary of fuelling speculation over Ten Hag’s future after Thomas Tuchel and Simone Inzaghi were linked with the job if he is sacked after two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is known to be an admirer of Tuchel and met the German coach in Monaco during the summer when Ten Hag’s future was in doubt before the FA Cup final.
Tuchel is still available but it’s unclear if the obstacles that prevented him from replacing Ten Hag then can be overcome now.
Money was said to be one of them, while he also wanted a rest after leaving Bayern Munich. It’s understood there has been no new contact between United and his representatives at this stage.
Tuchel’s potential appointment would see him return to manage in the Premier League for the first time since leaving Chelsea in 2022.
While in west London, Tuchel lifted the Champions League in his first season at the club. The German also won the Club World Cup during his spell in the English capital.
Tuchel left Bayern in the summer but the club considered a U-turn before appointing Vincent Kompany.
Ten Hag kept his job in the summer but is now under pressure again after United’s woeful start
The full force of United’s leadership team were present to scrutinise the team at Villa Park
After a lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth last season, United are in 14th place
The Red Devils played out a bore draw against Villa on Sunday which saw few chances created
The other obvious option open to United is to install Ten Hag’s new assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss.
Former United striker Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as part of a summer shake-up of the coaching team having had managerial experience at PSV Eindhoven. Van Nistelrooy has got to know the players and staff, and is well respected around the club.
