Revealed: The two Man United results that have ‘gone down badly’ with Sir Jim Ratcliffe this season amid speculation the new club chief could sack Erik ten Hag at the end of the season
Manchester United’s recent performances have included two results that have ‘gone down badly’ with new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team, according to a new report.
The Red Devils are 11 points behind Aston Villa in fourth place following Saturday’s results, and eight points off fifth-placed Spurs, after both sides picked up vital wins in the race for Champions League places.
However, Erik ten Hag‘s side were held to a draw by a struggling Brentford side on Saturday night, increasing the pressure on the Dutchman’s position as manager.
Mason Mount‘s 96th-minute goal looked certain to have secured a late victory for the visitors at the Gtech Community Stadium, only for Kristoffer Ajer to score three minutes later to level things again.
It followed a dismal performance for Man United throughout the 90 minutes, as they were over-powered by a Brentford side who have been struggling all season.
Two of Manchester United’s recent performances have ‘gone down badly’ with Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe remains undecided over Erik ten Hag’s future as manager of the Red Devils
The statistics from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford are particularly damning for the manager
The Telegraph report that Saturday’s draw was one of two performances that have ‘gone down badly’ with Ratcliffe and his Ineos team, the other being their 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham in February.
Against the Cottagers, Alex Iwobi scored a dramatic stoppage time winner, after Harry Maguire’s volley had looked to have secured a point for the hosts.
Ratcliffe took over football operations at Old Trafford in that month as part of a £1.3bn deal to become a co-owner of the club.
However, those two games where Man United have dropped points against West London clubs have left question marks hanging over ten Hag’s future as manager.
England boss Gareth Southgate branded the speculation linking him to the job as ‘completely disrespectful’ to ten Hag, but there are plenty of other potential replacements this summer if Ratcliffe looks to change things up.
Southgate joined a host of influential figures in football for Sir Dave Brailsford’s 60th birthday dinner at a London venue.
Brailsford holds a key position alongside Ratcliffe at United in his role as INEOS’ director of sport.
The statistics from Saturday’s match in Brentford are particularly damning for the Dutch manager as he battles to maintain his job.
While Brentford beat Manchester United 4-0 in the same fixture last season, during ten Hag’s first weeks at the club, many pundits believe Saturday’s performance was significantly worse.
Thomas Frank’s Bees managed 84 touches in United’s penalty area, almost four times as many as their opponents, and the most for any side in the Premier League for nearly four years.
Alex Iwobi scored a 97th-minute winner for visitors Fulham at Old Trafford back in February
Kristoffer Ajer scored nine minutes into stoppage time to bring Brentford level on Saturday
Ten Hag’s side have been inconsistent, facing 498 shots in the Premier League this term
Brentford had 31 shots, more than they have managed in a single game for half a decade, and hit the woodwork four times, with Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo both coming close to scoring for the hosts.
It highlights Man United’s inconsistency, as they also beat Liverpool in extra time to reach the FA Cup semi-final, and suggests that the team cope better in chaotic situations than they do in more controlled matches.
Manchester United have now faced 498 shots in the Premier League this season, 16 more than Man City and Arsenal put together.
They travel to another West London side, Chelsea, on Thursday night, before a home game against league leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
