Quite unfairly, Erik ten Hag is still awaiting the outcome of the Manchester United’s end-of-season review and now Louis van Gaal has had his say.
The big decision for Ineos this summer is one that they need to get a move on with and decide on who will be Manchester United’s manager next season.
We’re two weeks on from the FA Cup final and still, a decision doesn’t seem imminent from the decision-makers although surely it cannot drag on much longer.
Erik ten Hag‘s future is up in the air, and while the majority of the fanbase would want him to be kept in place and given another chance, many would take any decision now as long as it comes quickly.
Now a former Red Devil boss and Ten Hag’s countryman Louis van Gaal has shared his verdict on what the club should do.
Louis van Gaal shares verdict on Erik ten Hag’s future
As the end-of-season-review drags on, and on, Sky Sports have caught up with Van Gaal and asked him about Ten Hag, and whether he should be sacked.
Upon being asked if Ten Hag deserves more time, the former United boss responded with a balanced verdict.
“Yes of course [he should stay], but I also needed more time at that time, I won also the FA Cup, and before me for 20 years, nobody has won the FA Cup.
“Now Erik is winning the FA Cup and in the first year also Champions League, so I don’t think you have to sack him. He needs more time, but I can also be more critical.
“He has not done it fantastically, no, you can be with a lot of criticism but he has also shown that he is a good manager.”
A vote of confidence from Van Gaal will mean a lot to Ten Hag given both are also formerly of Ajax, but it’s unlikely that his advice will be heeded by Ineos who have experts deliberating over Ten Hag.
It is however a long way from the opinion Van Gaal shared on whether Ten Hag should’ve taken the job in 2022, with his prediction coming true. But under a more football-focused ownership structure, Van Gaal is keen on Ten Hag being given more time.
Latest news regarding Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
During the past week, it seemed inevitable that a decision would be made, with many confident of a Thursday or Friday announcement.
Although now we’re out the other side of this and ESPN have reported that the Ten Hag decision has been delayed into a third week. The report added that the Dutch manager remains in the dark about his future as he spends time away on holiday.
However, another report from The Sun states that the club are now close to announcing a decision on the manager. It claims that the delay in a decision has been due to Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe being taken aback by the FA Cup final.
Finally, on Friday, The Mirror reported that United’s four candidates to replace Ten Hag are; Thomas Frank, Mauricio Pochettinho, Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi, while Thomas Tuchel’s name has dropped down in the pecking order.