Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has one key backer – but what does that mean amid a takeover?
(Image credit: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has had a difficult start to the season, with the Red Devils losing five of their first 12 Premier League games.
Sir Alex Ferguson still holds sway at United (Image credit: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)
According the Sun, Sir Alex Ferguson is "hugely supportive" of his successor, and "he thinks those pointing at the manager and calling for a change are wrong."
Naturally, the 13-time Premier League-winning coach still holds a lot of sway at Old Trafford. The Glazers won't exactly care about going against the wishes of Ferguson, mind – they have in the past, after all, and it's not as if they could tarnish their popularity much further – but incoming investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be a little more cautious.
Reports claim that Ratcliffe wants to bring in Roberto De Zerbi as manager. If he chooses to do so in his opening weeks as boss, he'll be directly opposing Ferguson – not a make-or-break decision by any means, but one that could shape his relationship with the club. As a huge United fan, will Ratcliffe choose to lean on Sir Alex's advice? Or disregard it completely?
Jim Ratcliffe may choose to keep Ferguson onside (Image credit: Getty Images)
Winning the fans over is going to be key in those opening few weeks. How, if and whether a new investor interacts with them and their most famous figures – leading media presences such as Gary Neville will help to shape a narrative – could be intriguing. Being someone Ferguson approves of is another question: will Ratcliffe aspire to be that?
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There's no reason to believe that the INEOS billionaire will even take Ferguson's opinion on board – or that Ferguson would want to be consulted. This year marks a decade since the legendary Scot walked away from Old Trafford and though he has had input into managerial decisions in the past, he isn't on the board or even in a consultancy role at the club. Decision-makers aren't obligated to ask him what he thinks – and Ferguson would have no reason not to trust a new owner sacking an underperforming manager.
But with Ratcliffe wanting to win over fans and convince the most powerful figures closest to the club that he's the man to guide United forward, keeping people like Ferguson onside may be an unofficial task of his first few weeks at Old Trafford. Ten Hag's very job status may be influenced by his predecessor's opinions…
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
