Manchester United announced on Monday afternoon that struggling manager Erik ten Hag had been sacked in the wake of the club’s devastating 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
That defeat took United’s run to just 4 wins from 14 matches this season, an abysmal return for a team with so much investment. In the end, the performances were much too dire for INEOS to overlook.
Here are three reasons why the decision-makers at Old Trafford have decided to make that decision.
Lack of Identity
Ten Hag’s tenure was marked by a glaring absence of a distinct playing style. Despite promises of attractive football, United’s performances were often disjointed and lacking cohesion.
The team’s inability to dominate possession or create scoring chances consistently left fans frustrated.
This lack of identity made it challenging for players to understand their roles, hindering teamwork and overall performance.
Stagnant Player Development
Ten Hag failed to improve key players, despite significant financial backing.
Talented game-changers like Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo, and others have failed to perform consistently and even looked to have regressed in the past 18 months.
The inability to develop players and maximize their talents, while continuing to spend money on more players in the transfer market raised serious concerns about Ten Hag’s coaching abilities and long-term vision.
Poor Results
At the end of the day, this is a results-based business and the final straw for Ten Hag was United’s dismal recent form, culminating in the West Ham defeat.
With just four wins from 14 matches in all competitions this season, the ex-Ajax boss has truly failed to show any improvement in his third season.
This season’s performances have been worse than last season, and with pressure mounting, INEOS, United’s co-owners, could no longer overlook the decline.
