The past couple of weeks again saw Manchester United in the headlines, not because of their on-field struggles but some off-field drama. Speculation mounted that the Manchester United board had been holding “secret meetings” to discuss the future of manager Erik ten Hag, who after a bright start last season suddenly finds himself under fresh scrutiny following a string of underwhelming performances. Let’s go into details about the background of such meetings, problems ten Hag does face, and what that future is for United.
Dutchman Erik ten Hag’s First Season with Manchester United
Erik ten Hag joined Manchester United in 2022 with high expectations and a rich CV earned at Ajax, where he had led the Dutch team to multiple league titles and into the semifinal of the Champions League. Ten Hag, in his maiden season at United, restored some semblance of discipline and structure to the team, finally ending their trophy drought with the EFL Cup and ensuring a Champions League return. That success has been short-lived, though, and recent domestic and European struggles have raised questions of many fans and pundits alike whether he is the right manager to take this club into the future.
Reports do emerge of several secret meetings held, attended by members of the Manchester United hierarchy, where discussions were held pertaining to ten Hag and possible replacements for him. Sources close to the club say such meetings are nothing new, but the frequency increased after recent losses and a lack of progress by United under ten Hag this season. In fact, some reports go so far as to state key men, including members of the Glazer family and Chief Executive Officer Richard Arnold, are present at these meetings as they look to weigh up all options ahead of a final decision.
It is interesting to note how the “secret” nature of these meetings indicates that the board perhaps doesn’t want to disrupt the team anymore or create a media frenzy ahead of time, leading up to a decision. This cautious approach is representative of the club’s awareness regarding scrutiny over each managerial move it makes with its rich history.