“There is no point sugar-coating it" - Jamie Carragher slams Manchester United owners for retaining Erik ten Hag after 'deeply unimpressive start'
Jamie Carragher has blasted Manchester United's hierarchy for their decision to retain Erik ten Hag in the summer. The pundit believes those upstairs at Old Trafford must be held responsible for the club's struggles of late.
United underwent a change in ownership earlier this year after INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority stake acquisition of the club. The Red Devils displayed turbulent form under Ten Hag last season and the Dutch boss came under immense pressure.
During the summer, Manchester United's owners were deliberating whether to replace Ten Hag and began searching for alternatives. However, their final decision was to keep the 54-year-old in place, and Carragher feels it was one of the worst decisions the board could've made.
The Liverpool legend wrote in his column for The Telegraph (via The Independent):
“If Manchester United fail to massively improve this season, the ultimate responsibility lies with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos. The latest mess is on their watch, with United already struggling to convince they are equipped to qualify for next year’s Champions League."
He added:
“There is no point sugar-coating it. The new United hierarchy have made a deeply unimpressive start to their Old Trafford reign with one of their worst decisions being the most important any board can make. Above all, you must ensure you have the right manager. Retaining Ten Hag is proving the catalyst for another wasted campaign and possibly another £200m down the drain."
Manchester United will next face Aston Villa on Sunday (6 October).
Jamie Carragher claims Manchester United owners took 'the easy way out' by keeping Ten Hag
In the same column, Jamie Carragher accused the club's hierarchy of making the comfortable decision by retaining Ten Hag in the summer. The pundit believes they lost faith in the Dutch boss the moment they began searching for alternatives.
The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League table last season, eight points adrift of the top four. United endured a humiliating Champions League campaign as well, getting knocked out of Europe after finishing dead last in the group stages.
However, Manchester United won the FA Cup after beating Manchester City in the final, aiding Ten Hag's case at Old Trafford. Speaking about his retention at the club, Carragher said:
“At first, the noises around the head coach sounded like an astute way of securing a replacement in time for the next pre-season. By the time they decided to keep Ten Hag, it was revealed to be a fudge. Ineos froze after Ten Hag won the FA Cup and took the easy way out by giving him another chance."
“It is obvious there were serious doubts about Ten Hag’s ability to lead the rebuild. Those concerns were justified so whenever a board starts looking elsewhere, it is the beginning of the end of their relationship. It is not even that the trust has gone – it was never really there to begin with.”
The Red Devils are 13th in the Premier League table, six points off of fourth-placed Chelsea. United have recorded two wins, a draw, and three losses so far this term.