IT did not take long for the social media mickey-taking to start once it was confirmed Erik ten Hag was staying at Manchester United.
Fans were quick to share an old clip from The Office.
ReutersErik ten Hag still can’t relax despite Man Utd retaining him for now[/caption]
AlamyThe way Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ended up keeping Ten Hag amused fans online[/caption]
In it, Ricky Gervais’ character David Brent says: “I didn’t want you here . . . but you’re here now, so, you know, well done. Welcome . . .”
It was entitled “Sir Jim Ratcliffe welcoming Ten Hag back to Carrington”.
It does not sound unlikely given United’s new part-owner took no time to describe the club museum as ‘crap’ after taking control of 27.7 per cent at Old Trafford.
Bookmaker Paddy Power also had this dig . . . MAN UTD: Thomas, would you like the job?
TUCHEL: Nah.
MAN UTD: Fancy it, Mauricio?
POCHETTINO: Forget it.
MAN UTD: Erik, it’s your lucky day!
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That is pretty much how it feels like it has played out in one of the most unedifying chapters in United’s recent history — and that book was already nearly full.
As United attempted to bury the bad news late on Tuesday night, they tried to explain why it has taken over two weeks since Ten Hag paraded the FA Cup at Wembley to actually tell him he still had the job.
A thorough review of the season was needed even though Ten Hag said before the Cup final that this had been done.
The club said that they had ‘considered all eventualities’.
In other words ‘which manager would be best for us, and not necessarily the bloke we have got?’.
And the club were also at pains to make it clear how much they admired Ten Hag’s ‘dedication, dignity and professionalism’.
In other words he did not publicly flip his lid at the appalling way he was being treated despite asking Ratcliffe for a public vote of confidence months before the end of the season.
Let us remember Ratcliffe did not even namecheck Ten Hag in his ‘congratulations message’ after the FA Cup was won, despite the fact it was all down to him and the way he outthought Pep Guardiola on the day.
The hierarchy claim the review looked into injuries, the development of young players and signings made for the long-term good of the club.
Well we knew about this long before the final whistle went at Wembley.
The review concluded that ‘Erik deserves a chance to show what more he is capable of’. How patronising can you get?
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
PAMauricio Pochettino could remain in contention for the Man Utd job[/caption]
AFPThomas Tuchel reportedly didn’t want to rush back into management[/caption]
Why didn’t they just come out and say nobody else wanted to go near the job? Because that is what it boils down to, with both Tuchel and Pochettino running a mile.
The truth is the new team running the footballing side of United did not know who to get or how to go about it and even asked for advice from a senior figure at ANOTHER CLUB to point them in the right direction.
Despite Tuesday’s announcement, the issue of England boss Gareth Southgate being appointed after the Euros still hangs heavily over Ten Hag. He was clearly one of the preferred choices.
Southgate will no doubt quit the national team job, win lose or draw in Germany and then have time off.
In the meantime, Ten Hag will continue to be assessed by Sir Jim and what if the first two months only render say a 50 per cent win-rate?
He is no safer now than before the FA Cup, in fact it is even bordering on Ralf Rangnick’s interim status.
Forget any new contract. The pay-off will be the same 12 months if he goes next November or now.
The two men who handled his appointment so well, former chief executive Richard Arnold and director of football John Murtagh, were both forced out.
That left Ten Hag feeling very isolated in the latter part of last season. He was basically left on his own explaining to Ratcliffe and his team why he was the right man for the job.
In a series of frustrating meetings with Ratcliffe, his No 2 Sir Dave Brailsford and new technical director Jason Wilcox, he felt he was the most knowledgeable football man in the room but the one not being listened to.
Meanwhile, new football director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Omar Berrada continued to finish their gardening leave — what a shambles.
Ten Hag’s anger with the whole situation came close to boiling over on what should have been one of the happiest days of his life.
He had just won the FA Cup having outfoxed Guardiola and his multiple title-winning Manchester City side.
He had done it with a near full- strength team, something he always said he could achieve things with.
It still was not enough for Ratcliffe, whose handshake for the manager was wet and soggy in the May afternoon sunshine.
Afterwards Ten Hag made it clear that if Ratcliffe did not want him he would find another club to win trophies at.
Now he has the task to continue to do it at United.
There is plenty to do with a squad needing an overhaul and peace to be made with one of the stars in Marcus Rashford, who will be first back to training this summer after missing out on England’s Euros squad.
The pair have barely spoken since Rashford’s last off-field indiscretion after he stayed out partying until the early hours in Belfast, when he was supposed to be training later that day.
The problems never end and the last few months have hardly made Ten Hag’s position stronger in dealing with any of his stars.
The clock was ticking on his time at United and, whatever the hierarchy might say, it continues to be the case.
He may well have been better off out of it. Others felt they were.
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