Ten Hag should have been sacked by now, says club owner

Robin Bairner

• 25 Oct 2024 22:20 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is on borrowed time, according to one club owner, who says that if it was up to him, the Dutchman would have been sacked by now.

Ten Hag has overseen a disappointing run of form at Old Trafford that has seen the club win only one of their last seven matches.

The latest in the run of poor results was a 1-1 draw away to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in midweek as the Red Devils allowed a lead to slip for the third successive Europa League game.

Prior to kick-off, the manager’s decision to deploy full-back Noussair Mazraoui as a No.10 attracted particular attention – and it was a move that didn’t work.

Ahead of a trip to West Ham on Sunday in the Premier League, the Man Utd board have been told they should have sacked Ten Hag by now, with the manager himself.

“He's a good coach, but sometimes the chemistry doesn't happen in football,” Hull City owner Acun Ilicali, who is also Fenerbahce’s vice-president, told TalkSport.

“Bayern Munich had the same thing too. For me, I always look at one or two steps forward in my mind, imagine, then I decide about today and I always decide early. I don't want to lose time.

"So, I think, unfortunately, this match is not a good match, the coach and the club. From my point of view, there should have been a separation before.

"I wasn’t expecting too much from Manchester United because although Manchester United is a big team, and a fantastic brand, but unfortunately with the way they play they have been disappointing last year. They didn’t make a big impact.”

Who will take over?

Rumours continue to swirl around Ten Hag’s future, but there appears to be little appetite from the Man Utd board to sack a man they gave their backing to in the summer.

Nevertheless, there are many names who have been lined up to potentially replace him, with Xavi included among those – although the former Barcelona boss has reportedly demanded one €100 million signing to come.