Why Manchester United chose to stick with Erik ten Hag amid challenges

Erik ten Hag has extended Manchester United contract .©Man United

Why Manchester United chose to stick with Erik ten Hag amid challenges

Festus Chuma 16:47 - 04.07.2024

Manchester United have extended Erik ten Hag's contract through 2026 despite a challenging season maintaining stability and aiming for future success.

Manchester United has officially extended Erik ten Hag's tenure as the manager until June 2026 despite the team enduring one of their toughest seasons.

Last season saw the Red Devils finish in eighth place in the Premier League, marking their lowest finish in the competition's current format.

However, a strong finish with an FA Cup victory seemed to have tipped the balance in favor of continuity.

The decision to retain ten Hag comes after an extensive end-of-season review by senior figures at Old Trafford including the new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

This process looked beyond the immediate results,focusing instead on the broader trajectory of the team under Ten Hag's leadership since his appointment.

Erik ten Hag expressed his gratitude and determination following the announcement.

"I am very pleased to have reached agreement with the club to continue working together. Looking back at the past two years, we can reflect with pride on two trophies and many examples of progression from where we were when I joined.

However, we must also be clear that there is still lots of hard work ahead to reach the levels expected of Manchester United, which means challenging for English and European titles," Ten Hag told the club website.

The club's faith in Ten Hag can be attributed to his proven track record and the visible progress in team dynamics and performance, despite the disappointing league position.

Dan Ashworth, Manchester United's sporting director highlighted Ten Hag's impact.

"With two trophies in the past two seasons, Erik has reinforced his record as one of the most consistently successful coaches in European football," he noted.

Ashworth further emphasized that the review not only pinpointed areas needing improvement but also reinforced the belief that Ten Hag was the best option for moving forward.

"This group of players and staff have already shown they are capable of competing and winning at the top level; now we need to do it more consistently," Ashworth added.

The commitment to Ten Hag is also a commitment to stability and long-term planning at Manchester United. With the backing of a "strengthened football leadership team," the club appears poised to support Ten Hag in the quest to restore its former glory.

This strategic decision mirrors a broader trend in football where clubs are looking to build sustained success through stability rather than opting for frequent managerial changes which can disrupt team cohesion and long-term strategic goals.