If Sir Jim Ratcliffe invested £1.25bn in Manchester United for the thrill and excitement of being at one of the world’s biggest football clubs, he might want his money back. Except the British billionaire also enjoys sacking a manager.
After a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, United have made their worst start in the Premier League era, with eight points from seven games. It would take them back to 1989 in the old First Division to find a more difficult start, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had just seven points. There will be no joy for Ratcliffe watching from the stands, only anguish over what to do with his inept manager.
The Red Devils have failed to win in five games and have scored just five goals in the Premier League. Only Southampton (4) have scored fewer and they have also suffered humiliating 0-3 home defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham.
A draw at Villa Park could see Ten Hag keep his job, but if Ratcliffe chooses to be patient, the reality is they will only be delaying the inevitable. Ten Hag simply isn’t good enough, and results and performances have been clear evidence of that.
The strikers Ten Hag brought in were not of the right stature to play for Man United. The Dutch strategist cannot escape responsibility when he himself was involved in the signing of Rasmus Hojlund, Antony and Joshua Zirkzee.
Ratcliffe decided not to sack Ten Hag at the end of last season after United surprisingly beat City to win the FA Cup. Ten Hag had just led the Red Devils to their worst Premier League finish of eighth and the club had been in open talks with successors, including Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna. Gareth Southgate was also under consideration.
But Ten Hag survived the two-week wait with the promise that things would start to improve. However, by the first week of October, United were struggling in 14th place in the Premier League with just two wins, against Fulham and Southampton.
Financial considerations have left the United board in a quandary over Ten Hag’s future, having announced an annual loss of £113m last month. But at some point, sporting issues will come to the fore, especially as qualification for next season’s Champions League looks increasingly unlikely.
Ratcliffe and the INEOS team have a pre-scheduled board meeting at Man United on Tuesday, so Ten Hag’s position will certainly be a matter for discussion. But at this stage, the most likely outcome is that Ten Hag will continue in the hope that results improve.
The lack of a clear replacement is another factor in Ten Hag’s favour at the moment. Tuchel, Southgate and Graham Potter all have their own limitations. But Ratcliffe has become Britain’s richest man by making big decisions and investing wisely. He knows when to take risks and when to sit tight.
If he thinks it’s smart to continue with Ten Hag at the moment, games like Villa Park will not help to reinforce that view. United are drifting, playing boring football and not threatening.
So Ten Hag may survive for now, but Ratcliffe's patience will not last forever.
