Erik ten Hag to stay as Manchester United coach

Manchester United have put to bed all the rumours surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford by confirming his place in the dugout next season despite a substandard campaign in 2023/24, Sky Sports has reported.

The end of season review conducted by the club’s new ownership, INEOS, took into consideration the impact of injuries on ten Hag’s squad planning before coming to a final decision.

The manager’s saving grace was the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City as well as the development of academy graduates like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, who are now prominent first-team names.

During the board meeting, Gareth Southgate, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel were all discussed as potential managerial candidates but United’s decision ended up working out in Ten Hag’s favour.

Manchester United are also expected to open talks with the Dutchman over a fresh contract. He is set to enter the last year of his deal in England but the Red Devils have an option to trigger a one-year extension until 2026.

While ten Hag will receive the chance to prove himself next season once again, it is debatable whether or not the Manchester United board has taken the correct decision.

The FA Cup win totally papered over the team’s worst-ever Premier League finish as they ended in eighth place, whereas ten Hag has also fractured a number of relationships with players during his two seasons as head coach.

It is also worth considering that a number of expensive signings, most notably Antony, have not made the desired impact in spite of ten Hag’s personal insistence in bringing those players to the club.

Had a more experienced and reputed manager received the kind of financial backing ten Hag has done in the transfer market, it would have caused a noticeable improvement at Man United, which hasn’t exactly been the case under the former Ajax Amsterdam boss.

More Manchester United News-

• “Should be at the top of their list”- Chelsea target told to snub Blues for Manchester United transfer
• Thomas Tuchel rules himself out of Manchester United job; Euro 2024-bound manager ‘heavily linked’
• Exit bound Manchester United youngster set to move to Serie A side

Time will tell if the club’s decision is the correct one, but one should not be very surprised if ten Hag’s future comes under the scanner once again in some months.