'They already know' - Gary Neville says Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Man Utd have made a decision on Erik ten Hag's future

Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes those higher up at the club "already know" what Erik ten Hag's fate will be at the helm.

Posted Tuesday, February 27, 2024 by Goal.com

WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils will begin a new phase in the club's development come the summer, with minority investment holder Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to take charge of his first full transfer window. The INEOS chief has already worked hard to poach Omar Berrada as CEO from rivals Manchester City, while Dan Ashworth has been put on gardening leave by Newcastle ahead of him joining as sporting director. After such important decisions being made early on - albeit with Ashworth's not officially confirmed - Neville admits he "can't believe" the club will leave it late to decide on Ten Hag's future.

WHAT NEVILLE SAID
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of West Ham's clash against Brentford on Monday, the former full-back explained: "If you look at the guy who's come in from City [Berrada] as CEO and then obviously they're looking to get Dan Ashworth in from Newcastle. They're going to make a decision [on Ten Hag] quite quickly, if they've not already. I suspect that [Sir] Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford already know whether they're going to keep Erik ten Hag as manager next season. I can't believe they're going to wait until May to make that decision and then leave themselves short.

"Where Manchester United have been found out in the last ten years in recruitment, on and off the pitch, is making poor decisions, late decisions, not being ahead of the game. I don't think they're going to do that. For me, I suspect that they've come to a conclusion already. It may even be whether it's Champions League [qualification] or not, they still will stick with that decision."

THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite winning the Carabao Cup in his first season in charge, Ten Hag's tenure in Manchester has largely been characterised by disappointment. A recent string of five straight wins had promised a significant change to United's season, but defeat at home to Fulham on Saturday has put paid to any meaningful progress. Ten Hag has failed to take his side out of the Champions League group stages, and they currently sit in sixth in the league with the worst goalscoring tally of sides in the top half. That record doesn't make for great reading - and could cost him his job come the summer.

WHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?
Champions League qualification is still within reach, but the Dutchman's last opportunity for silverware this term remains the FA Cup. United travel to Nottingham Forest in the fifth round on Wednesday where they will hope to avoid a repeat of the 2-1 defeat at the City Ground suffered in late December.