Erik ten Hag at what proved to be his final Manchester United press conference (Image: Getty)
In a week that will be etched in the memory of Manchester United fans, Erik ten Hag’s dismissal has left a series of shockwaves larger than the gaping holes in the Old Trafford roof. The Dutchman was shown the door on Monday following United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham.
The club acted swiftly to find a successor, and by Friday had officially announced Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag’s replacement. As the dust begins to settle on his exit, rumours of dressing room discord, botched transfer plans and uncomfortable standoffs have emerged, sketching a rather chaotic image of his tumultuous tenure.
With two cup victories to his name, Ten Hag will be remembered as one of the more successful managers United have had since Sir Alex Ferguson. However, the aftermath of his departure suggests his legacy will also be tinged with feelings of frustration and unfulfilled potential. With this in mind, the Express Sport looks back on seven bombshell revelations from his time in charge…
Feeling ‘let down’ by three senior stars
Despite securing the FA Cup at the end of last season, the 2023/24 campaign was a massive letdown for Ten Hag and United. High-quality performances were scarce, and their record against top-tier teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Bayern Munich was hardly impressive.
The issues at United are widespread, but Ten Hag feels particularly let down by Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Antony, according to the Daily Star. Both Rashford and Casemiro had impressive 2022/23 seasons, but their form dipped in the following campaign.
Rashford, for instance, only managed to score eight goals in all competitions, a significant drop from his 30-goal haul the previous season. Casemiro also faced a barrage of criticism throughout the campaign.
Antony, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax, has failed to justify the hefty £82million fee United shelled out for him, a fee that Ten Hag reportedly encouraged the club to pay despite internal doubts.
Erik ten Hag struggled to get the best out of Marcus Rashford (Image: Getty)
Sack bill hits £70m
United’s managerial woes since Sir Alex’s retirement in 2013 have cost the club dearly, with the total severance bill now exceeding £70m.
Ten Hag’s dismissal is the latest blow to the bank balance, with the Dutchman set to receive around £17.5m in compensation, just four months after the club extended his contract by a year. This payout is reportedly £7.5m more than what United would have had to pay if they had parted ways with him in the summer.
Transfer frustration
United splashed out over £500m during Ten Hag’s reign, but the value for money of these signings has been questioned. The 54-year-old was frustrated by the club’s inability to secure many of his top transfer targets, including Harry Kane who opted for Bayern Munich over United.
ESPN reports that Ten Hag expressed his dissatisfaction with other failed transfers to INEOS. Three midfielders he had targeted did not end up joining the club. Alexis Mac Allister moved to Liverpool from Brighton in 2023, while Fede Valverde and Frenkie de Jong stayed put at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Harry Kane chose Bayern Munich over Manchester United (Image: Getty)
Ronaldo row went too far
The situation with Cristiano Ronaldo escalated beyond control under Ten Hag’s management. Ronaldo’s contract was terminated less than six months into his tenure following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan where he criticised several club figures.
Tensions peaked when Ronaldo refused to come on during a match against Tottenham. While most of the squad supported Ten Hag’s decision to discipline Ronaldo, some believed the treatment of the now-Al-Nassr forward was excessive.
Ronaldo was instructed to train separately from the first team and was later banned by Ten Hag from entering the dressing room. According to ESPN, Ronaldo had to ask an academy player to retrieve a pair of trainers he had left in the dressing room.
Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo rarely saw eye to eye (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Unusual charm offensive
De Jong was a top target for Ten Hag during his tenure at United, but despite numerous attempts, the Red Devils failed to lure him away from Barcelona.
In an unusual move, United even created a mock-up video of De Jong in their iconic red shirt alongside some of the club’s legends, as reported by The Athletic. However, the Dutch midfielder never saw the video for reasons that remain unclear.
In their quest to bolster their midfield, United ended up splashing out approximately £180m on other players. Casemiro, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in for hefty fees, but none have lived up to expectations.
David de Gea was ditched by Erik ten Hag (Image: Dave Thompson/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
De Gea’s subtle dig
David de Gea, now plying his trade with Fiorentina in Serie A, took a veiled jab at Ten Hag following news of his dismissal.
The Spanish shot-stopper posted an emoji of two pinched fingers, a gesture often used in Italy to express disagreement or frustration. De Gea was shown the door by Ten Hag in the summer of 2023, replaced by former Ajax keeper Andre Onana as United’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Welbeck plea
United’s transfer strategy has been under scrutiny in recent seasons, and the rumour that Ten Hag was considering signing Brighton striker Danny Welbeck certainly raised some eyebrows.
Reports suggested that the Red Devils seriously considered re-signing the 33-year-old, who joined the club at the tender age of 11, rose through the ranks, and made 142 appearances before making a move to Arsenal in 2014. While a popular figure, it would have been seen as a backwards move.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1970622/ten-hag-manchester-united-rashford-welbeck