Manchester United’s players, fans and most importantly manager continue to wait for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s end-of-season review to be completed.
The INEOS founder is currently undertaking an audit of the campaign after Erik ten Hag led the club to FA Cup glory last weekend. It was widely reported that the Dutchman would be sacked regardless of the result against Manchester City but a groundswell of support for the manager appears to have thrown a spanner in the works.
MEN Sport understands a decision on Ten Hag’s future will be made next week but in our latest look at the media headlines, the fans have been accused of treating INEOS with double standards.
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Ratcliffe’s Ten Hag indecision branded disgrace
In an impassioned rant, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has slammed INEOS’ handling of Ten Hag’s future. He told ESPN: “Manchester United are an absolute disgrace.
“If this was the Glazers running the football department we’d be saying: ‘This is horrendous, they know nothing about football, how can you leave the guy hanging.’ If the Glazers were doing that, people would be saying: ‘Absolutely clueless,’ so what is Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and all these people doing?”
MEN Sport says: Sympathy must be shown to Ten Hag over how long it is taking to decide his future. Reports last week made it seem as though his exit was a formality and that no matter what happened, he was leaving the club. However, in the days since the Wembley victory, it appears Ratcliffe and co. are taking their time over their decision. Being left in the lurch over your job is not an ideal way to do business but it must also be acknowledged that INEOS are not wanting to rush into a decision they could later regret. It might only be early days of their tenure but the outcome of the Ten Hag decision, either way, could set the tone for what is to come.
Ratcliffe sets new manager demand
According to The Telegraph, Ratcliffe shall urge whoever is the new manager of United to prepare for next season inside tight Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) restrictions. United’s budget will reportedly be significantly less than the £175m splashed last summer.
Instead, the emphasis will be on looking at younger players who are already on the books and can improve the squad.
MEN Sport says: It seems a foregone conclusion that United will be spending money much more frugally than they did last season. That demand should be welcomed by all involved with the club as it is clear the Reds have been spending money poorly to date. If the emphasis next season is to focus on bringing youth players into the first-team set-up, it makes sense to keep Ten Hag as manager. Consistently the Dutchman has integrated the academy players into his training sessions and given them opportunities to shine in the matchday squad. Any new manager would have to get to grips with the youth talents quickly.