Glazer family & Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirm Erik ten Hag's secure future

Erik ten Hag, the Dutch coach, still has the full support of the Manchester United authorities, and from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe is currently in the process of buying a 25% share in the club and taking control of football operations at Old Trafford, according to 90min.

There has been growing pressure on Ten Hag since the commencement of the new season. Manchester United has been struggling to deliver consistent performances and has suffered a number of disheartening losses. The most recent of these losses was a 3-0 defeat to their rivals, Manchester City, at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ten Hag was hired by the Glazer family and current United chief executive Richard Arnold in the summer of 2022, following United's worst-ever Premier League season. His inaugural campaign at Old Trafford concluded with a fourth-place finish and a League Cup victory. However, so far into the new season, signs of regression on the field have been evident.

Several high-value signings have been made under the management of Ten Hag, contributing to the current team difficulties. Goalkeeper Andre Onana has made several mistakes and player Mason Mount has had few starts. Despite these challenges, there is growing pressure on the 53-year-old Ten Hag. Yet, the Glazers and Arnold have shown they are ready to support Ten Hag, believing that he can turn things around.

The Glazers are in the process of transferring control of sporting operations at United to Ratcliffe and INEOS. Discussions about their stake are ongoing, following a year-long process set by the owners to investigate 'strategic alternatives'.

Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, and those about to take over are also confident in Ten Hag's position as manager. Ten Hag's achievements in his debut year at United and during his tenure at Ajax have confirmed their belief in his abilities, arguing that blame for United's failures does not solely fall on the manager.

Ratcliffe is planning to make changes that will directly impact the higher footballing structure once he fully takes control. The current sporting direction is overseen by CEO Arnold and John Murtough, the current football director. Arnold has faced significant criticism and pressure due to his handling of off-field issues involving Mason Greenwood and Antony.

Like previous United managers, Ten Hag has also been given considerable influence over transfer activity and target selection. He revealed in August that both the club, represented by Murtough, and he himself have veto power over transfer decisions. Critics have taken issue with United's recent policy of giving managers control over transfers, leading to regular cycles of underperformance, something Ratcliffe intends to rectify.

One of the targets to assume the new sporting director role is Paul Mitchell or someone in a similar capacity. It's speculated that a new strategy will be implemented for broader transfer policies, transitioning towards retaining a stable club identity through managers, commonly referred to as the 'continental model'.

Mitchell emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan for United's future in an interview with Sky Sports in January 2022. In his words, the club needs a blueprint for the present as well as for the next five years.

He pointed out that Manchester City and Liverpool have demonstrated that adopting a long-term strategy yields consistent results and success.

Current plans do not involve significant transactions in the January transfer window, though this could change if Mitchell takes the helm before then. While Jadon Sancho is expected to depart, maintaining stability within the manager and squad is essential, particularly amid significant backend alterations and widespread uncertainty surrounding the club.

The primary focus for Ten Hag is to maximize available players and to focus on coaching. Stability is paramount and impulsive decisions are to be avoided as an analysis of the current operation, led by Brailsford, is taking place for the club's future benefit.