Erik ten Hag’s position as manager of Manchester United has been under scrutiny following a disappointing 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford last month. This defeat marked a particularly poor beginning to the Premier League season for the club, which has invested over £500 million in player acquisitions since Ten Hag took charge two years ago. His tactical approach has been criticized, and many of the players he recruited have not met expectations. Consequently, his dismissal was anticipated.

Three weeks prior to his sacking, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and billionaire from Ineos, expressed hesitation when asked about his confidence in Ten Hag. While Ratcliffe acknowledged he liked the coach, he indicated that a reassessment was necessary and stressed that accountability resided with the club’s executives. Although Ten Hag managed to retain his position through meetings with club leadership and survived the international break in October, it became evident that his time was limited.

While fans may not lament Ten Hag’s exit, it does prompt difficult questions for those managing the club. Critics have wondered why the organization did not take action sooner, allowing candidates like Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel to be hired by other teams. There are concerns about whether loyalty turned into stubbornness that ultimately backfired. A summer review led by Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’s head of sport, had previously supported keeping Ten Hag despite considering several potential replacements.

Ten Hag had achieved some success, including an FA Cup victory over Manchester City and an EFL Cup win in the previous season. Nevertheless, finishing eighth in the Premier League was United’s worst performance in years. This prompted questions about extending Ten Hag’s contract, which may now cost the club upwards of £15 million in compensation for his departure.

The leadership restructuring at United has included new appointments like Omar Berrada as chief executive and Dan Ashworth as sporting director after Ten Hag was retained. Their public support for him now seems questionable in light of recent events. The management faced criticism regarding transparency and handling of discussions about Ten Hag’s future.

As losses continued to mount—£113 million recently reported—fans are increasingly concerned about operational changes aimed at financial sustainability and performance improvement. While Ratcliffe has invested significantly in infrastructure upgrades and is contemplating plans for a new stadium or renovations to Old Trafford, doubts linger over how these efforts will be financed amid cost-cutting measures affecting staff morale.

The challenge facing United is considerable as Ratcliffe’s previous investments have yielded mixed results across different sports teams he oversees. His focus on building a robust sporting environment now faces pressure to deliver tangible improvements on the pitch after less than a year of ownership. The path ahead demands careful navigation as they seek to restore Manchester United’s legacy in football while addressing operational challenges within the club structure.