Over his 20-month tenure, Ten Hag faced multiple challenges: from poor signings to player disagreements and costly failures in match strategy.
Tensions came to a head on Monday when Ten Hag met with Manchester United’s chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth at Carrington.
In what was described as a “calm and dignified” conversation, they informed Ten Hag his services were no longer required, citing insufficient results and a lack of improvement in team performance.
Despite a 12-month contract extension in the summer, the decision to part ways with Ten Hag reportedly stemmed from issues that had escalated since last season.
An insider expressed disappointment, noting, “We have put everything we can in place to develop, and we are not seeing an improvement.”
United spent approximately £615 million under Ten Hag, including £200 million this summer alone, but the results were underwhelming.
Transfers for players like Antony, who has struggled to make the starting lineup, and Mason Mount, whose recurring injuries have limited his impact, have highlighted recruitment missteps.
Former Ajax players like Casemiro and Christian Eriksen also remain part of the squad, a situation that perplexed many given their age and physical limitations.
The team’s persistent tactical issues, from a porous defense to an inconsistent attack, made it clear that Ten Hag’s style lacked the adaptability required for the Premier League.
During his tenure, United’s defensive frailties and inability to score in crucial games stood out, culminating in embarrassing losses, such as the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool.
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