October 25th 2024.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently weighing his options for a potential change in leadership at Manchester United. The football club has reportedly held confidential discussions with various managers in hopes of finding the right fit to replace Erik ten Hag, who is currently on the verge of being let go.
Despite a much-needed victory against Brentford last weekend and a decent draw against Fenerbahce in midweek, Ten Hag's position at Old Trafford remains precarious. Manchester United, known for its success in British football, finds itself in the lower half of the Premier League table before their upcoming match against West Ham on Sunday.
To add to their struggles, the team has failed to secure a win in any of their first three games in the Europa League, a disappointing outcome for a club that is used to competing in the more prestigious Champions League. Ten Hag has repeatedly voiced his confidence in the support of the club's owners, but it is no secret that they have also been in talks with other potential managers since last summer.
Despite pointing out the trophies he has won during his tenure at the club since his appointment in 2022, Ten Hag's record of finishing in 8th place in the Premier League last season and their current struggles suggest that his time may be up. Reports suggest that Manchester United is also considering other high-profile names such as Xavi, Ruben Amorim, Edin Terzic, and Thomas Frank as potential replacements.
Xavi, a renowned midfielder in his playing days, is currently without a job since leaving Barcelona earlier this year. It is unclear if he would be interested in taking over at Manchester United. Amorim is another name that has piqued the interest of the club, but he is heavily linked to eventually succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Terzic, who led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final earlier this year, surprisingly left the club after their defeat to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Frank, who is highly regarded as one of the best coaches in the Premier League, impressed Manchester United's hierarchy despite his team's loss to them last weekend.
The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United also spoke to Frank and Marco Silva during the summer transfer window, in addition to new England boss Thomas Tuchel. However, if a short-term solution is needed, Ten Hag's assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy could be promoted to the role, having previously managed before joining Ten Hag's coaching staff at Manchester United.
Speaking ahead of their match against West Ham, Ten Hag acknowledged that the team has been hindered by a string of injuries. Last season, Manchester United had the most injuries in the Premier League, and they were without nine first-team players for their game against Fenerbahce on Thursday. Ten Hag believes that the team's inability to field their strongest lineup has affected their performance and position in the league.
He added, "We need more players available often. We all have to work together on this point - the players, the coaching staff, and all the other staff. We have to do better at that because we know when we have them, we are a really tough team to play against and we can be successful."
Their next opponents, West Ham, have also had a disappointing start to the season and currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League. Manchester United fans can stay updated on all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for updates and agreeing to the site's privacy policy, which is protected by Google's Terms of Service.
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