Erik ten Hag has reportedly gone on holiday and has minimal qualms about his future despite Manchester United top brass meeting to discuss his future.
The Dutchman spoke to United’s management team after the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday and is said to have emerged confident that his job was not under immediate threat.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe brought together club bosses, as well as Gary Neville, at Old Trafford for talks on Monday afternoon, with Ten Hag’s future high on the agenda. The board will also attend a previously scheduled meeting in London on Tuesday.
It comes amid their worst start to a Premier League season, with United in 14th place with eight points after seven games and reeling in the Europa League.
Despite the difficult star, Ten Hag will be on vacation during the international break, according to reports ESPN.
Erik ten Hag has reportedly gone on holiday as Man United bosses discuss his future.
The United boss had a sunny break this summer with his family after winning the FA Cup
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is meeting the club’s top brass, with the future of Ten Hag a point of discussion
Ten Hag reportedly met with Man United senior bosses after the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.
Ten Hag will expect friendlier treatment than former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was fired in March 2023 after going on a skiing holiday.
He has won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his two full seasons at Old Trafford and has harped on these successes as a sign of United’s progress under his command.
However, losing 3-0 to Tottenham on Sunday before last, a week in which United drew 3-3 with Porto (wasting a 2-0 lead) and 0-0 with Villa, hasn’t helped much. to calm the criticism.
Ratcliffe was pictured arriving at Old Trafford today with the future of Ten Hag and the £2bn stadium among the talking points for the meeting with Joel Glazer and other bosses.
It is understood they are in no rush to make that decision and sources say no major developments are expected on Monday.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched United’s goalless draw against Aston Villa on Sunday alongside director Sir Dave Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Discussions about Ten Hag’s future continued into Monday and will be back on the agenda when co-president Glazer, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell join them at the executive committee meeting on Tuesday.
The talks come ahead of a board meeting scheduled for Tuesday in London. The club must decide whether to support Ten Hag or take advantage of the international break by changing coaches.
Ratcliffe was photographed arriving for the talks on Monday, and a pre-planned meeting is expected in London on Tuesday.
Sir Jim was pictured strolling around Old Trafford on Monday for crucial meetings with Joel Glazer.
Former United player Gary Neville was also seen entering Old Trafford on Monday.
United fear fueling speculation over Ten Hag’s future after Thomas Tuchel and Simone Inzaghi were linked with the job if he is sacked after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is known to be an admirer of Tuchel and met the German manager in Monaco during the summer when Ten Hag’s future was in doubt ahead of the FA Cup final.
Tuchel is still available but it is unclear whether the obstacles that prevented him replacing Ten Hag can now be overcome.
It was said that money was one of them, although he also wanted to rest after leaving Bayern Munich. It is understood there has been no further contact between United and its representatives at this time.
Tuchel’s possible appointment would allow him to return to manage the Premier League for the first time since leaving Chelsea in 2022.
While in west London, Tuchel lifted the Champions League in his first season at the club. The German also won the Club World Cup during his time in the English capital.
Tuchel left Bayern in the summer but the club considered a U-turn before signing Vincent Kompany.
Ten Hag kept his place in the summer but is now under pressure again after United’s woeful start.
The full force of United’s management team was present to examine the team at Villa Park.
After finishing eighth last season in the Premier League, the worst result in their history, United are in 14th place
The Red Devils played out a boring draw against Villa on Sunday in which few opportunities were created.
The other obvious option United have is to install Ten Hag’s new assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss.
Former United striker Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as part of a summer shake-up of the coaching staff after having experience as a coach at PSV Eindhoven. Van Nistelrooy knows the players and staff and is highly respected at the club.