Erik Ten Hag earned a stay of execution after leading the Red Devils to the FA Cup title, but owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe now claims waiting to pull the club was a mistake
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that keeping Erik ten Hag at Manchester United beyond last season’s FA Cup triumph was a mistake.
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The INEOS co-owner revealed that uncertainty over whether the Dutchman or the club’s structure was to blame led to a hesitant decision that he now regrets.
Ratcliffe admits delaying Ten Hag’s exit was a costly error
Manchester United’s new leadership hesitated in making a decision on Erik ten Hag, ultimately choosing to extend his stay at Old Trafford rather than cut ties earlier.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not backed Erik ten Hag publicly (Credit: Imago)
Ratcliffe admitted in an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap that the club struggled to determine if United’s erratic performances were down to Ten Hag or deeper structural problems within the squad.
“It was too early for us to make a big decision in reality. We hadn’t been together as a team for very long. It was just a matter of weeks, and it’s quite a big decision, isn’t it?” Ratcliffe explained.
Manchester UnitSir Jim Ratcliffe after Man United won the Emirates FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London || Image credit: Imago
However, with United’s poor start to the 2024/25 season, the club ultimately pulled the plug, replacing Ten Hag with Ruben Amorim in October.
Reflecting on the choice to persist with the Dutchman, Ratcliffe admitted, “We made the wrong decision. It was an error. So yeah, I suppose in that sense, I regret it.”
Amorim struggles to improve Manchester United
Despite Ten Hag’s departure, United’s fortunes have not improved under Ruben Amorim, who has faced a rocky start adapting his 3-4-3 system to the squad.
Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United manager. || Imago
The Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League, and early optimism around Amorim’s appointment has faded as results remain underwhelming.
Even with Amorim’s tactical adjustments, the squad continues to struggle, leaving fans frustrated and questions mounting over the club’s long-term vision.
Ratcliffe, however, insists that Amorim is the right man for the job, believing that time and patience will eventually lead to better results at Old Trafford.
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