Bitter ESPN pundit rages at Manchester United and INEOS’ Erik ten Hag decision

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News broke like wildfire on Tuesday when Manchester United decided to keep Erik ten Hag on board.

For months and months, there was so much talk about whether INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, would decide to keep or sack their under-fire manager.

Erik ten Hag’s side finished the Premier League campaign in eighth spot – their worst league finish in over three decades.

But Manchester United’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City, not only signalled that the team will be playing Europa League football next term, but it also softened the mood around Old Trafford.

Even that didn’t stop talk that Manchester United were looking for other candidates to replace ten Hag, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino mentioned, as well as, England manager Gareth Southgate.

From the perspective of the media, this backing of ten Hag from the top has caused quite a stir and even rattled some people for a strange reason.

Yes, Manchester United are a huge topic in the media because of their power and following, but that doesn’t require you to be overdramatic about everything.

Craig Burley was raging with the powers that be at Old Trafford for not sacking their manager and even called the fans ‘stupid’ and ‘fickle’ because many seemed to be wanting ten Hag to stay after winning the FA Cup.

The former Chelsea man even questioned the likes of INEOS, who haven’t been in the job for 12 months, and how you ‘doubt’ their ability already, as he told ESPN.

Well, you can’t judge them until after they make a decision and you get some form of end result. This is their call. They are sticking with their manager. Judge them until next year, no?

Not only that, whilst Burley continued to sound bitter about this whole thing, he failed to mention the countless injury issues ten Hag faced and the high volume of defensive combinations he had to use.

It’s a fair way of balancing your argument out, rather than just going at the throat of ten Hag and Manchester United, because it’s great to see a club remaining patient and backing their manager, just like Arsenal did with Mikel Arteta.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United show support for Erik ten Hag

“Fans are utterly stupid sometimes, aren’t they?” said Burley. “I mean they are so fickle. They win a cup final, great! But did they have the blinkers on for the rest of the season?

“INEO have had a review. The review was the season. The review was the performances. The review was the batterings that they took from less-than-mediocre sides in the Premier League. Yeah, you can win games. Wigan won the FA Cup. They beat Manchester City like Manchester United did. They were relegated. You don’t judge on the odd game against Liverpool and Manchester City, and say ‘we have derailed other people’s seasons’. That’s not what a football club should be about. 

“The longer that INEOS are in there, and it hasn’t been long, the more you doubt their ability to bring to Man United what many thought they were, which was utter clarity, in the way they were going to go. They are going to have egg on their face if Manchester United play in the three or four months of next season like they did in the first three or four months of this season. Big decisions had to be made and they have not made it. It doesn’t make sense because they were a big toe from getting knocked out by a Championship side. So does that make him the man to go into next season? He did have his problems, there is no getting away from it. But they were outplayed. Don’t let yourself believe that he went into some of these games early on in the season threadbare They were getting outplayed by a lot of teams at the start of the season.”

Erik ten Hag to sign a new Manchester United contract

Sources are telling HITC that Manchester United are discussing handing ten Hag a new and improved contract.

That seems logical. There is no point in backing your manager and then not handing him a new deal. That way, you are showing that you really mean what you say and how you feel.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag told ‘quick’ player could get ‘high’ of Manchester United move after Euro 2024 snub

Of course, this doesn’t alter or dampen the pressure the Dutchman will be under next season.

You could argue that the main story will be ten Hag and Manchester United. Any signs of defensive issues. Any poor performances and results, then the critics will be ready to fire shots like never before.