Erik ten Hag began his preparations for Brentford by returning to Carrington on Monday, having spent some time in the Netherlands during the international break.
“Man goes to work” is not ordinarily newsworthy but uncertainty has loomed over Ten Hag’s position since the draw against Aston Villa nine days ago that followed the awful 3-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur and chaotic draw with Porto. There has been no shortage of external speculation over who might replace him and when, and no public backing from the club since Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the manager’s future was “not my call”.
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Manchester United recording their lowest points total at this stage in a Premier League campaign inevitably brought scrutiny, as did the executive committee (ExCo) meeting that took place in London last Tuesday.
Confirmed details from that gathering at INEOS headquarters in Knightsbridge, which included Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, were thin on the ground — for United staff members included. In the silence, speculation grew, even at Carrington, about the outcome for Ten Hag.
From the perspective of those running United, there was no need to provide an update reaffirming the status quo, beyond those directly involved. Before heading back to his homeland, Ten Hag was satisfied he would remain in charge for the Brentford game and planned accordingly. Communication between the key figures was normal.
Nonetheless, the results mean Ten Hag is reaching a critical period. The team’s performance, including Ten Hag’s role, was debated during the meeting of United co-owners and directors.
However, it is worth clarifying that while there were six hours between the first executive arriving and the last leaving, several other aspects of the club unrelated to Ten Hag were on the agenda, not least the financial picture at United.
For instance, Collette Roche, the chief operating officer whose remit includes stadium redevelopment, left the INEOS offices at about 2.30pm, her section of the day done.
Ratcliffe and Brailsford exited together a couple of hours later. By then, a crowd had gathered outside the front entrance on the thoroughfare next to the Harrods department store, so they had a car pull up at the rear. Dozens of shoppers had been attracted to the television cameras and photographers’ lenses and hung around to catch a glimpse of the man who owns one of the world’s most famous football clubs. When Jean-Claude Blanc, INEOS Sport chief executive, had left a few minutes before, he was followed by a throng of people unclear of his identity but hoping for a video to share of a United powerbroker.
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The day was an illustration of the scale of United, a clamour provoked by media members being prepared to wait hours to track developments. There was even a surreal turn when Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, passed by and asked what all the fuss was about. Once told, this Fergie had minimal interest in standing around, however.
This ExCo meeting was long in the diary. The previous, which took place a month earlier in Barcelona, received none of the same attention at the time. These get-togethers will continue at regular intervals to provide a forum for face-to-face talks on the important issues at the club.
The size of United and the current cashflow complications have taken some new employees aback. United’s magnitude is something Ten Hag has handled with a steady disposition, remaining resolute in his confidence, even now, of building a successful reign.
The manager told the United delegation as much during reconciliation talks in Ibiza in the summer, which ended in him having his contract extended. United triggered the plus-one clause in his deal, rather than go through the complexities of agreeing fresh terms, meaning the cost of dismissing him now would be higher than doing so after the FA Cup final.
Being here barely less than four months after recommitting for an extra season was not in anybody’s plans, and is a factor behind those in charge being reluctant to make a change — but Ten Hag knows he needs wins.
His team against Brentford will be seriously affected by injury. Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire have joined the list of absentees, each expected to be out for a few weeks, and Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are not in the running to feature at Old Trafford on Saturday, meaning Jonny Evans or Lisandro Martinez might be forced to shift to left-back.
There is more positive news on Mason Mount, who is set to return to training. He was seen as instrumental to United’s improved pressing schemes up top at the start of the campaign. Putting Thomas Frank’s team under pressure during their build-up will be important to the game plan, although Ten Hag has limited time to work with his players this week due to international fixtures. Brentford have set sequences from the back, but can also produce a surprise in-game, and Ten Hag wants his players to be ready to adapt during the contest.
Being primed to adjust to events on the pitch might well apply to those at the top of United too.
(Top photo: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
