“Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Erik ten Hag Struggled Last Season by Taking on Too Much at Manchester United”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new minority owner of Manchester United, has commented on manager Erik ten Hag’s challenging season. Ratcliffe noted that Ten Hag faced significant difficulties last season, which saw Manchester United finish in eighth place in the Premier League. Despite a promising debut season where Ten Hag led the team to a third-place finish, an EFL Cup win, and an FA Cup final appearance, the subsequent season proved more challenging.
Ratcliffe suggested that Ten Hag’s struggles were due to his overextension, stating, “Erik is a good guy and has been doing his best but doing too much. He was trying to sort out the squad and fix leaks in the roof at the same time.” This analogy highlights Ten Hag’s effort to address both squad issues and other broader concerns within the club simultaneously.
The FA Cup win over Manchester City was pivotal, as it secured Manchester United a spot in the UEFA Europa League and helped Ten Hag retain his position amidst speculation about potential managerial changes. Ratcliffe’s comments underscore the complexities faced by Ten Hag as he juggled multiple pressing issues during a tumultuous period for the club.