Football News: Erik ten Hag Stands Firm in Manchester United Contract Negotiations
In the world of football, Manchester United’s manager Erik ten Hag is asserting his authority as he enters contract negotiations with the club’s new ownership led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Reports suggest that the Dutch tactician is ‘angry at his treatment’ and is ‘ready to play hardball’ to secure the terms he deems necessary for his continued leadership at Old Trafford.
The 2023/24 campaign has been a challenging one for Manchester United, with the team seriously hampered by injuries throughout the season. Despite this setback, Ten Hag’s side was unable to consistently deliver the performances expected, leading to embarrassing defeats in several key matches.
Despite the club’s eighth-place finish in the Premier League and an early exit from the Champions League, the Red Devils ended the season on a high note, winning their final two league fixtures and claiming the FA Cup trophy with a victory over rivals Manchester City.
Amidst the club’s post-takeover summer overhaul, Manchester United had been linked with several high-profile managers, including Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Gareth Southgate. However, in a surprising turn of events, the club has decided to stick with Ten Hag, who is now expected to sign a new contract.
This decision comes after Ratcliffe and his team conducted an internal review, with former Everton CEO Keith Wyness suggesting that the club is in “turmoil behind the scenes.” Wyness believes that the decision to retain Ten Hag is driven by the wrong reasons, as the club’s fans have rallied behind the manager, feeling sympathetic towards him due to the evident instability within the organization.
Nonetheless, The Sun reports that Ten Hag is not merely grateful for the opportunity to continue his tenure. The 54-year-old manager is making three key demands before signing a new three-year deal, as he remains “angry” at the way the club has treated him.
- Ten Hag is not willing to cede control of transfer decisions, which the new technical director Jason Wilcox had reportedly sought to take away from the manager.
- He is not prepared to be dictated to by Wilcox regarding the team’s playing style, particularly the use of Bruno Fernandes as a false nine in the FA Cup final.
- Ten Hag will not allow Jadon Sancho back into the first-team squad unless the player apologizes for labeling him a liar last season.
Additionally, the manager is demanding a new contract for his first-team coach, Benni McCarthy, whose current deal is set to expire.
As the football world closely follows these developments, it remains to be seen whether Ten Hag and Manchester United can reach an agreement that satisfies the manager’s demands and sets the stage for a more stable and successful 2024/25 season, both in the Premier League and in European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup.
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