Indeed, it has finally transpired. The next ambitious two-year goal awaits us. The concluding period of Erik Ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United was reminiscent of the gloomy days of the Soviet Union. During that time, the central committee’s secretary seemed to be perpetually on the verge of death. He would grudgingly appear every quarter to oversee a parade, serving as a grim symbol of a gargantuan and decaying red administration.
By Monday afternoon, the situation had become unequivocally clear. The successor dressed entirely in black is no longer present. The Dutch bald man, known for his unusual, melancholic demeanour on the Old Trafford touchline, will now reap the rewards of a bafflingly generous two-year contract that he signed during the summer. At that time, it had become apparent that he was merely a walking suit.
Was this the most dreadful dismissal the club has ever seen? Did it exhibit the grandeur typically associated with Manchester United sackings? Not quite. This might be seen as Ten Hag’s greatest achievement and, more importantly, Ineos’ earliest phase.
Both entities astonishingly managed to convert Manchester United, a club renowned for its dramatic, glamorous and boisterous nature despite its shortcomings, into something cold, closely resembling the Soviet era, and strangely monotonous. It appears that incessantly bragging about winning the League Cup will eventually lead to such an outcome.
Over the past few months, with Ten Hag aside, the incessant stagnation has been catastrophic for the brand, which feels slightly diminished and unimportant for the first time. This is primarily a significant setback for Ineos, who demonstrated a lack of competence in handling the transition. It must be noted that Ineos is still coming into its own, gradually unveiling its capabilities and potential.
It’s apparent that the initial remark to note is your delayed action. This is yet another blip on Ineos’ record: even when choosing the appropriate path of letting go of an underperforming coach, they’ve turned it into a mishap due to the sheer lateness of the decision. It was clear at the conclusion of the previous season that Ten Hag’s time was up. Jim Ratcliffe had his standards set for retaining the manager, including Champions League qualification and fostering attractive gameplay.
So, how did that go? United placed eighth, and currently sits at 14th. Attraction undoubtedly varies per person but the defining characteristic of the present United squad is confusion, an unclear objective, a team seemingly ill-prepared for the intricate task laid before them, akin to watching a group of well-intentioned Labrador puppies attempting to rewire a circuit board.
Under Ten Hag’s supervision, beyond failure to perform, there’s been a breakdown in the team’s internal structure. No progression can be seen in any of the players. None of the team’s components are communicating effectively. This has resulted in a kind of formless panic-football and a continuous roundabout of trial-and-error player selection.
The negative energy surrounding the end of Ten Hag’s tenure has been noticeable. Managers in difficulty frequently influence the narrative of their exit through public comment. Ten Hag had developed a habit of endlessly complaining about unfairness, potentially to be remembered as merely unfortunate. This attitude can also taint the environment. Matthijs de Ligt’s entire tenure at United seems to have been dominated by his cries of unfairness, conspiracies, and so forth. This hasn’t been beneficial for him.
The truth of Ten Hag’s stewardship involves spending £600 million to worsen an already average team, with the team’s last season potentially being one of the worst performances by any English team in the Champions League group phase. Amid all this, Ten Hag has materialised as a figure of constant despair, less a big club manager and more a stern 16th-century priest who will converse about VAR and defensive blunders if pushed, but genuinely prefers to tell you that all human life is dark, short and void of happiness.
Thus, we find ourselves where the true centre of attention is not Ten Hag, but Ineos and the quandary presented by a highly-publicised management conglomeration that at present, seems just as baffled about how to navigate this maze as anyone else.
Why did the administration consortium hold onto Ten Hag for an extended period? It was most likely due to a multitude of reasons, primarily their inability to procure an alternative. Consequently, the four-month holdup has essentially compounded the previous season’s miscues.
Achieving a spot in the Champions League from this juncture necessitates a significant turnaround. The prospect of missing the expanded carousel, given the size and brand infatuation of the club, comes off as a monumental misstep. At this moment, the landscape of elite football is in a state of flux, and it’s simply not an opportune time for a misstep.
This carries a notable importance given the youthfulness of the Ineos era. The identity of the individuals involved remains largely unknown. As it stands, the only visible accomplishment has been the appointment of ostensibly confident men in formal attire. Subpar footballers still carry on to join, and one of the scarce prudent decisions, that of terminating Alex Ferguson’s contract (Ferguson is aged 82 and has received £24 million since his retirement), was an ill-timed PR misjudgment.
However, matters in football have a way of changing. The sphere constantly undergoes rejuvenation. Thus, pondering what lies ahead becomes disproportionately crucial. Steering this colossal entity, resplendent with its infuriating uniqueness, has always been a herculean task.
Filling the role of United’s manager means juggling three roles simultaneously. Firstly, one must grapple with history, which incessantly makes its presence known, much like a persistent haunting. Secondly, managing present-day turmoil, ranging from infrastructural deterioration and an imbalance in the squad to an exceptionally unique ownership, is necessary. Lastly, you are expected to triumph with zeal and vitality, as if handling this enormous, groaning leviathan were the easiest task imaginable.
Following the post-Ferguson decline, United has experimented with a seasoned football professional, an elderly icon, a past-prime colossus, a statue representative of the club’s history and a capable, yet restricted middle-level player. So what’s the next move? Betting on youth? Perhaps a 27-year-old Swiss person, advocating spatial domination, and riding into the scene on a hoverboard?
The significance of appointing a manager is often inflated, however, for Ineos, it’s a monumental decision and one of the few impactful options they have at their disposal. It could potentially be the most crucial decision in the club’s contemporary history. The continued existence of this version of Manchester United, a dwindling entity existing on past glories, is now untenable.
Thomas Frank, affable and competent, however, lacks breadth and past successes. Xavi or Zinedine Zidane appear to be potential disasters in the making. Although Gareth Southgate theoretically promotes culture and oversees the complete club picture, the colossal responsibility of the role would likely overwhelm him in a matter of weeks.
Rúben Amorim was previously linked to Manchester City, pending Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of the season, and is currently a frontrunner for the United job. Amorim, a tactical realist, is youthful, dynamic and charismatic. This appears to be a logical match for United as they require a no-nonsense manager with a solid backbone who can re-energise the struggling club.
United are essentially seeking a highly skilled, driven, ambitious manager, who’s in the ascendant phase of their career, fearless in the face of adversity and possessing the ego necessary to uphold the club’s sense of self. However, the notion of building an era and shifting the culture may need to be put aside for now.
The gradual decline of the Ten Hag era indicates that time is running out for the club, and it’s at risk of losing its status, struggling to keep up with the re-structuring elite tier. The bonus of small incremental improvements is no longer enough. Their top priority should be securing victories. – Guardian