ERIK TEN HAG has finally been sacked by Manchester United – and SunSport can reveal the reasons why.
The Dutch boss, 54, was axed just hours after the Red Devils’ 2-1 defeat at West Ham as the club released a blunt 87-word statement.
Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Man Utd with Ruud van Nistelrooy replacing him on an interim basis[/caption]
Man Utd chiefs were keen to give Ten Hag time in the new regime under Sir Jim Ratcliffe but felt their hand was forced amid a horror run of form[/caption]
Man Utd are 14th in the Premier League and winless in Europe after a shocking start to 2024-25[/caption]
The result leaves Man Utd 14th in the Premier League – with the club also winless in all three of their Europa League matches.
Ten Hag was under serious pressure in the summer after guiding United to a record-worst eighth placed finish.
But ultimately the ex-Ajax boss escaped the axe and was handed an improved contract on the back of his side’s FA Cup win.
However, SunSport can now reveal why United chiefs performed a U-turn just nine games into the Premier League season.
While Red Devils chiefs found the decision difficult, they were unanimous in their decision to move on from Ten Hag.
The United boardroom were keen to give the Dutchman a chance to work under the new structure put in place by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United bosses were keen to keep Ten Hag in a bid to find continuity in their leadership for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.
However, they were left disappointed by both the results AND the performances on the pitch and feared the lack of momentum could only cause United to fall further.
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Chiefs felt there were no excuses for the shoddy form and poor results both in the Premier League and Europa League – especially the manner in which the side have dropped points from winning positions.
Having put things in place to watch the team develop, the shocking start to 2024-25 left them with no option but to sack Ten Hag.
Ruud van Nistelrooy – brought in to help Ten Hag in the summer – has replaced his old boss on an interim basis.
And he is one of many names in the running to take over at Old Trafford permanently.
Edin Terzic is the club’s favourite having led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last term.
Thomas Tuchel is no longer an option after the former Chelsea chief took the England job.
But his Three Lions predecessor, Gareth Southgate, has long been linked with the job – despite suggesting he would take a year out after guiding the nation to the Euro 2024 crown.
Ex-United Under-18s coach Kieran McKenna has also been suggested, along with former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Brentford boss Thomas Frank.
Ruben Amorim and ex-Barcelona chief Xavi are also big name options.
Man Utd ratings vs West Ham
THE LONDON STADIUM was the venue for the latest defeat in a shocker of a season.
To be fair, it was a hugely controversial VAR call in the dying moments that handed West Ham a 2-1 win.
And the first half from the Red Devils was impressive.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jack Rosser rated the players…
Andre Onana – 6
Very loose with the ball at his feet early on but soon settled.
Manchester United conceded from West Ham’s first shot on target, though given Ings’ deflected strike there was little Onana could have done about it.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Delivered one of the most entertaining missed chances you will see all season – doing so well to clip the ball past Lukasz Fabianski before smashing the ball high and wide of an open goal.
Despite that, had little trouble from those in claret and blue attacking down his side until Summerville was introduced. The former Leeds man tested Dalot a number of times with his pace.
Redeemed himself a touch with the header back in ahead of Casemiro’s equaliser.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
Hard done by in conceding the penalty for what looked a soft challenge on Hammers striker Ings.
Restricted West Ham well for the most part but United never looked entirely comfortable at the back and a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Struggled at times to deal with the strength and direct nature of Michail Antonio, who tested all across United’s back line well until he was replaced by Ings.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
Struggled to keep a handle on both Bowen and former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the most part and was thrown around by Michail Antonio at times.
Having looked soft at the back he also offered very little going forwards down the left.
Casemiro – 6
Started strongly dominating in the middle but struggled to wrestle that back when West Ham picked up.
Was denied a first half goal by Fabianski’s superb save but got one eventually as he refused to give up and made sure the ball.
Christian Eriksen – 5
Some flashes of creativity in the first half but could not help United keep control in the second after West Ham perked up.
Marcus Rashford – 4
Entirely absent throughout the hour he was on the pitch. Played down the right he was easily managed by Emerson Palmieri who had little of note to do before the winger went off.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Caused huge problems for West Ham and created plenty of chances which his teammates put to waste.
Fernandes made a fine run to meet a Casemiro cross but headed over the bar and had to watch both Garnacho and Dalot pass up huge chances after his good work to set them up – especially the latter, a wonderful looped ball to cut out the entire West Ham defence.
Alejandro Garnacho – 5
The young winger should have had two goals inside the opening eight minutes. One chance was rattled against the bar before a poor finish sent the second wide of the far post.
He continued to cause trouble down the left but faded as the game went on and crucially gave the ball away in the build-up to Summerville’s goal.
Rasmus Hojlund – 5
Drew a couple of saves from Hammers keeper Fabianski but neither looked too difficult.
The Dane was rather comfortably dealt with by West Ham’s central defenders and never looked too much of a threat.
Substitutes
Amad Diallo – 6
Added some life and threat to a forward line which had offered little after the break and lifted a clever ball over to Dalot in the build-up to Casemiro’s goal.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5
Claimed an assist but did not know a lot about it and struggled to have an impact from there on.
Victor Lindelof – n/a
Unused subs: Altay Bayindir, Manuel Ugarte, Jonny Evans, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher.
