Man United state of play: How close is a Ten Hag sacking?

Despite Manchester United's thrilling 4-3 FA Cup win over Liverpool, manager Erik ten Hag remains under pressure. Victory against Jurgen Klopp's side at Old Trafford on Sunday gave the Dutchman a decisive victory, but the question of whether he is still the right man for the job won't go away.

A successful first year following his arrival from Ajax in 2022 was followed by a disappointing second season in which his team was kicked out of European competition before Christmas and had to play catch-up in the race for qualification for the Champions League. sit in sixth place, nine points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. There is always the possibility that the FA Cup will provide a second piece of silverware in as many years' time, to go with last season's Carabao Cup, but Ten Hag must also contend with the arrival of new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

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Ratcliffe and his team have taken control of all football operations, leaving Ten Hag vulnerable if the 71-year-old British billionaire decides to bring in his own man.

Two things usually cost managers their jobs: poor results and new owners. Unfortunately for Ten Hag, he faces both at the same time.

What is Ten Hag's professional status at Man United?

Ten Hag signed a three-year contract when he joined Ajax, which is expected to last until 2025. A source told ESPN that while he understands his job is not secure, he does not believe nor that Ratcliffe and his team have ever done it. made the decision to terminate his contract.

Ten Hag has been fully involved in planning the upcoming transfer window and organizing the summer tour to the United States but, according to sources, has received no formal guarantee that he will stay on as coach.

As previously reported, United have been approached by representatives of a number of managers with the idea of ​​offering their client any vacancy that may arise. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe's right-hand man, Sir Dave Brailsford, continues to do his due diligence on a host of candidates.

With United in the FA Cup semi-finals and just 10 league matches remaining, there is a chance that a disappointing season could still end with a trophy and Champions League qualification. Brailsford, however, is prepared to make his decision based on a number of different factors, rather than judging Ten Hag on how the last few weeks have gone.

Another issue Ratcliffe and Brailsford must consider is the cost of sacking the manager. Money is already tight as the club attempts to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, and the compensation owed to Ten Hag and his team could exceed £10million.

What is Ratcliffe looking to change at Old Trafford and Carrington?

Bolstered by Ratcliffe, Brailsford is looking first to change United's off-field structure and then find the best people to fill each role. Omar Berrada arrives from Manchester City to take over as CEO and Dan Ashworth will arrive from Newcastle United as sporting director. It is also likely that there will be a new technical director, a recruitment manager and a performance manager.

Brailsford, according to sources, views the manager's job as an important cog in the machine rather than an all-powerful overlord, which could complicate matters for Ten Hag. The manager has had a lot of influence since his appointment – particularly when it comes to signing players he has managed in the past like Antony and Lisandro Martínez – and he may find that Brailsford is looking at a different future.

Having a manager happy to report to a sporting director opens the door to candidates like England manager Gareth Southgate, who Ashworth knows well from their time together at the Football Association, and former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter , whom Ratcliffe tried to attract. at his Ligue 1 club, OGC Nice, last summer.

United have been known to give their managers a lot of power in the past – probably too much – and for Ten Hag to stick around he may have to accept a watered down version of the role he currently occupies.

What is Ten Hag thinking?

He has credit in the bank after winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third last season, but Ten Hag admits this campaign hasn't been good enough. The Dutchman argued – privately in Brailsford and publicly via the media – that the season had been derailed by a list of crippling injuries. He insists the results and performances were good when he had enough of his best available players.

Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Rasmus Højlund all missed part of the season, and there were times when Ten Hag had to operate without a striker or left back. The defense was particularly hard hit, forcing Ten Hag to use 11 different central defender combinations.

When the treatment room began to empty in January, United won six of their first seven games of the new year, but the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in March was a sobering reminder of how far behind they had fallen. They still have left. If United won the FA Cup and qualified for the Champions League, Ten Hag would expect to stay. But for Ratcliffe, even that might not be enough.

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So what happens next?

At the very least, Ratcliffe and Brailsford, in consultation with Berrada and Ashworth, have a decision to make.

A year ago, a new owner storming in and sacking Ten Hag would have been universally unpopular with United fans, but support for the 54-year-old has declined significantly since the start of the season. Some believe he has earned the right to work in the more progressive club structure put in place by Ratcliffe, but others believe he should leave immediately.

Right now, Ratcliffe needs Ten Hag to take his side to the Champions League and provide a financial boost ahead of a crucial summer. But the overall vision from Man United's top brass is to get back to fighting for the Champions League, not just playing in it. Unfortunately for Ten Hag, he hasn't yet convinced his new bosses that he's the right man to do it.