"I think it's the truth" - Ten Hag suggested in final press conference what was expected of him to keep Manchester United job
Erik ten Hag hinted in his final Manchester United press conference that he was expected to win a trophy. The Red Devils sacked the Dutch coach after a 2-1 loss to West Ham United on Sunday (October 27).
Ten Hag's final presser as manager came after that defeat at the London Stadium. He reflected on the defeat by stressing that trophy success was the most important aspect of a successful season (via BeanymanSports):
"Definitely. It’s about trophies. I don’t want to go into this debate again, but I think it’s the truth. There are not so many trophies you can win and if you can, that is the most important thing."
Ten Hag spent two years and four months at Manchester United, overseeing 72 wins in 128 games. His team finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their lowest-ever place.
The Dutchman continuously defended himself amid mass criticism over a lack of playing identity. He pointed to winning two trophies in as many seasons at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag was backed with a reported £600 million during his reign and made signings befitting of his previous philosophy at Ajax. However, there was a lack of significant improvement, especially this season, with United making the worst start to a Premier League campaign in their history.
The Red Devils handed Ten Hag a one-year contract extension in the summer after his FA Cup triumph. However, his proven trophy success didn't pay dividends this time around, as co-owners INEOS cut ties.
What did Manchester United's higher-ups say when Ten Hag was handed a contract extension?
Manchester United took several months to decide on Ten Hag's future in the summer. INEOS conducted an end-of-season review and held interviews with several candidates, including new England manager Thomas Tuchel.
The club's sporting director, Dan Ashworth, explained the decision to continue with Ten Hag. He emphasized his two trophy wins when speaking to club media:
"With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football. While the club’s review of last season highlighted areas for improvement, it also reached a clear conclusion that Erik was the best partner for us to work with in driving up standards and outcomes."
When Ten Hag arrived, Manchester United was amid a six-year trophy drought. He succeeded in ending that drought when he led the Reds to the Carabao Cup in 2023.
Ten Hag headed into his third season with the backing of INEOS. They are now searching for a successor, with Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim the favorite.