Ratcliffe faces a setback at Manchester United after parting ways with Sir Alex Ferguson, while Gary Neville’s pre-season predictions about Ten Hag’s struggles have proven accurate, though he’s not pleased with the outcome.
Ratcliffe Faces New Man Utd Setback After Ferguson Call
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to lose his top choice to replace struggling Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, with Thomas Tuchel expected to take the England job.
It’s been a tough 24 hours for United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has made the tough call to end Sir Alex Ferguson’s reported £2million-a-year contract as the club’s global ambassador. The move to part ways with the 82-year-old Ferguson has sparked backlash from fans, with Ratcliffe informing the legendary manager in a face-to-face meeting that the club is aiming to cut costs.
Later on Tuesday, it was revealed that the Football Association is in advanced negotiations with Tuchel to replace interim manager Lee Carsley at Wembley. The former Chelsea boss has been without a job since May, after leaving Bayern Munich, and is set to take on his first international managerial role.
England officials also contacted Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, but Tuchel’s availability and interest in the role have made him the top contender. This development is a setback for Ratcliffe, who met with Tuchel earlier this summer when United first discussed replacing Ten Hag.
The two sides’ visions ultimately didn’t match, but after Ten Hag began the season with only three wins in 11 games, his position has faced growing criticism. Ratcliffe and other United executives held a lengthy meeting last Tuesday, with discussions about Ten Hag’s future on the agenda.
A report from the Manchester Evening News last week suggested that the Red Devils were preparing to bring in Tuchel before deciding on Ten Hag’s future. However, those talks faded after it was confirmed that the 54-year-old would stay in charge for Saturday’s Premier League home match against Brentford.
It was claimed in the summer that Tuchel, 51, was Ratcliffe’s first-choice pick to replace Ten Hag, but now that option appears to be off the table. Club legend Peter Schmeichel believes that the Germans have the credentials to manage United despite his acrimonious exits from both Bayern and Chelsea.
“I really like Thomas Tuchel. Being around the Champions League and interviewing him, listening to what he’s saying when he’s in the technical area, and his personality, he just looks like somebody who could be a good manager at Manchester United,” Schmeichel told David Seaman’s podcast Seaman Says, via Betway.
“I don’t think he had his way at Chelsea. I know for sure he didn’t have his way at Bayern. I just think he’s got such a great aura around him that he fits a bill.”
Gary Neville Was Right on Ten Hag at Man Utd – But Unhappy
Bad predictions are a common part of being a football fan—whether they’ll admit it or not—though most can easily brush them aside and move on. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, however, don’t have that same privilege.
Neville and Carragher shared their pre-season predictions on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football after Tottenham’s opening day draw with Leicester in August. One of the few predictions they both agreed on was Erling Haaland being the top scorer. Neville picked Manchester United to secure a top-four finish, while Carragher predicted they’d end up in fifth.
These predictions now seem overly optimistic. The Premier League season has only seven games left. United sit in 14th place with only eight points. Among teams outside the bottom three, none have scored fewer than United’s five goals this season. With only three wins in 11 matches across all competitions, it’s a poor outcome for a team aspiring to qualify for the Champions League.
The last category the duo discussed was the “manager to watch.” Carragher chose new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, while Gary Neville selected three: Erik ten Hag, Slot, and Enzo Maresca.
When asked to explain his choices, Neville said: “I can’t separate them because I think there’s a story with each of these three in that it’s high stakes for the three of them – in different ways. Obviously Ten Hag, the end of last season with what happened with them winning the FA Cup. A lot of fans, all of us, thought he would be gone, but he’s there.
“He’s got renewed hope, and the fact that they’ve invited in quite a few players makes the squad stronger. There’s a feeling that it’s a little bit better, but he has to deliver.”
All eyes in the football world turned to Old Trafford on Monday as key United leaders arrived for scheduled meetings. The following day, another meeting took place at Ineos’ Knightsbridge office. Fans worldwide eagerly awaited news on Ten Hag’s future, but no updates were given. Another string of poor results, and the cycle will likely repeat.
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