Erik Ten Hag during what turned out to be his final Manchester United press conference (Image: Getty)
In a week that will live long in the memories of Manchester United fans, the sacking of Erik ten Hag left a series of shockwaves bigger than the gaping holes in the roof of Old Trafford. The Dutchman was shown the door on Monday following United's 2-1 defeat to West Ham.
The club moved quickly to find a successor and officially announced Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag's replacement on Friday. As the dust begins to settle on his exit, rumors of dressing room discord, botched transfer plans and uncomfortable standoffs have emerged, painting a rather chaotic picture of his tumultuous tenure.
With two cup wins under his belt, Ten Hag will be remembered as one of United's most successful managers since Sir Alex Ferguson. However, the aftermath of his departure suggests that his legacy will also be tinged with feelings of frustration and untapped potential. With this in mind, Express Sport looks back on seven explosive revelations from his mandate…
Feeling 'disappointed' by three senior stars
Despite securing the FA Cup at the end of last season, the 2023/24 campaign has been a huge disappointment for Ten Hag and United. High quality performances were rare and their record against top teams such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Bayern Munich was hardly impressive.
Problems at United are widespread, but Ten Hag feels particularly let down by Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Antony, according to the Daily Star. Rashford and Casemiro had impressive 2022/23 seasons, but their form dipped in the following campaign.
Rashford, for example, only managed to score eight goals in all competitions, a significant drop from his 30 goals the previous season. Casemiro also faced plenty of criticism throughout the campaign.
Antony, who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax, failed to justify the hefty £82 million fee United shelled out for him, a fee Ten Hag reportedly encouraged the club to pay despite internal doubts.
Erik ten Hag struggled to get the best out of Marcus Rashford (Image: Getty)
Redundancy bill hits £70m
United's management problems since Sir Alex's retirement in 2013 have cost the club dearly, with the total severance bill now exceeding £70 million.
Ten Hag's dismissal is the latest blow to the bank balance, with the Dutchman set to receive around £17.5million in compensation, just four months after the club extended his contract by a year. That payment would be £7.5million more than United would have had to pay if they had parted ways with him in the summer.
Transfer frustration
United spent more than £500 million during Ten Hag's reign, but the value for money of those signings has been questioned. The 54-year-old was frustrated by the club's inability to secure many of their top transfer targets, including Harry Kane opting for Bayern Munich over United.
ESPN reports that Ten Hag has expressed his displeasure over other failed transfers to INEOS. Three midfielders he had targeted ultimately did not join the club. Alexis Mac Allister left Brighton for Liverpool in 2023, while Fede Valverde and Frenkie de Jong remained at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Harry Kane chose Bayern Munich over Manchester United (Image: Getty)
The argument with Ronaldo went too far
The situation with Cristiano Ronaldo has gotten out of control under Ten Hag's leadership. Ronaldo's contract was terminated less than six months into his tenure following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized several senior figures at the club.
Tensions came to a head when Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute in a match against Tottenham. While most of the team supported Ten Hag's decision to discipline Ronaldo, some felt the treatment of the current Al-Nassr striker was excessive.
Ronaldo was ordered to train separately from the first team and was later banned by Ten Hag from entering the dressing room. According to ESPN, Ronaldo should have asked an academy player to retrieve a pair of sneakers he had left in the locker room.
Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo rarely agreed (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Unusual charm offensive
De Jong was one of Ten Hag's main targets during his tenure at United, but despite numerous attempts, the Red Devils failed to lure him away from Barcelona.
In an unusual move, United even created a mock-up video of De Jong in his iconic red jersey alongside some club legends, as reported by The Athletic. However, the Dutch midfielder never saw the video for reasons that remain unclear.
In their quest to strengthen their midfield, United ended up spending around £180m on other players. Casemiro, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte were all signed for high fees, but none lived up to expectations.
David de Gea was abandoned by Erik ten Hag (Image: Dave Thompson/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
De Gea's subtle dig
David de Gea, who now plies his trade with Fiorentina in Serie A, has launched a veiled jab at Ten Hag following the announcement of his dismissal.
The Spanish goalkeeper posted an emoji depicting two pinched fingers, a gesture often used in Italy to express disagreement or frustration. De Gea was shown the door by Ten Hag in the summer of 2023, replaced by former Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana as United's first-choice keeper.
Welbeck plea
United's transfer strategy has come under scrutiny in recent seasons, and the rumor that Ten Hag were considering signing Brighton striker Danny Welbeck certainly raised eyebrows.
Reports suggest the Red Devils have seriously considered re-signing the 33-year-old, who joined the club aged 11, rose through the ranks and made 142 appearances before joining Arsenal in 2014. , it would have been seen as a step backwards.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1970622/ten-hag-manchester-united-rashford-welbeck