A group of Man Utd players believe that coach Erik Ten Hag will no longer be in charge next season.
According to the Daily Mail on March 5, some Man Utd players believe that new owner Jim Ratcliffe will likely fire Ten Hag right after the end of the 2023-2024 season. Some players are said to have complained about the intensity of training under the Dutch coach, but others are still supportive.
Ten Hag's position has become precarious as Man Utd have struggled this season. The "Red Devils" have been eliminated from the Champions League group stage, the League Cup, and are currently sixth in the Premier League after 27 matches. They are 11 points behind the Top 4, the group that is guaranteed a place in next season's Champions League, with only 11 matches left. Last season, Man Utd finished third in the Premier League and won the League Cup.
Ten Hag directed the match Man Utd lost 1-3 to Man City in round 27 of the Premier League on March 3 at Etihad Stadium. Photo: Man Utd
In an interview, Ten Hag said he shared the same views as Ratcliffe. However, according to the Daily Mail , he also confided to members of the coaching staff and his agent that the future was uncertain. Goal confirmed that Ten Hag could only stay in the job if he helped the team win the FA Cup and qualify for the Champions League. On March 17, Man Utd will play the FA Cup quarter-finals against rivals Liverpool.
Ratcliffe has just completed the acquisition of 27.7% of Man Utd shares. Under the agreement with the main shareholder Glazer, the British billionaire will run the football division. In preparation for the reform, Ratcliffe has brought in Omar Berrada, CEO of City Football Group, the group that owns Man City, as CEO. He is also close to attracting Newcastle's director of football Dan Ashworth.
Ten Hag started leading Man Utd from July 2022. The Dutch coach was more or less successful in his first season when he brought the team to three Premier League titles, reached the FA Cup final and won the League Cup, ending the club's six-year title drought. However, problems appeared from this season when many players lost form, played without dedication and suffered many injuries.
Some players have also been unhappy about the intensity of training that Ten Hag and his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag are demanding. After the 2-1 win over Luton Town on 18 February, some players were reportedly unhappy about not being given a day off, despite United not having a midweek fixture.
Before leading Man Utd, Ten Hag helped Ajax win three Dutch championships and reach the semi-finals of the 2018-2019 Champions League.
Thanh Quy (according to Daily Mail, Goal )
Source link
Comment (0)