Why Ten Hag survived Man United overhaul

Manchester United have extended Erik ten Hag’s contract until 2026.With so much structural change at the club, is this a genuine show of faith in the manager?
Also, with pre-season starting Monday, what are the problems that still need to be fixed before the Premier League returns?
Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's Daniel Sheldon and Mark Critchley to discuss.
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:15 Erik ten Hag’s new contract
00:01:56 Is this good for Man United?
00:03:57 INEOS & Man United
00:09:24 Dan Ashworth & other management
00:13:07 The new structural hierarchy
00:21:12 is this the start of the INEOS era?
00:24:11 What is next for Man Utd’s management?7
00:27:17 The women’s team
00:30:07 What are the fans reactions to the new era?
00:33:01 Pre-season
00:37:05 Outro
The Athletic Football Podcast is your essential guide to football's biggest stories, five times a week this season...
Listen on Apple and Spotify: theathletic.lnk.to/tafcpodYT
Subscribe to The Athletic Football Podcast channel 👉 bit.ly/athleticuk | 🔔Make sure to enable all push notifications!🔔
The Athletic is currently offering a special price subscription of £2/$2 a month for the first 12 months. To redeem that limited-time-only offer go to 👉 theathletic.com/footballpod
Follow The Athletic FC:
Website 👉 theathletic.com
Twitter 👉 / theathleticfc
Instagram 👉 / theathleticfc
Facebook 👉 / theathleticfc
Follow Tifo Football:
Website 👉 tifofootball.com
Twitter 👉 / tifofootball_
Facebook 👉 / tifofootball
Instagram 👉 / tifofootball_
Subscribe to Tifo Football 👉 bit.ly/TifoFootball
Thumbnail: Robin Jones / Contributor / Getty Images Europe via Getty Images
#tenhag #manunited #premierleague

[@unknownname1941]

Media still salty

[@TNT_12]

INEOS just biding their time, mate. Ten Hag's not gonna last much longer

[@tendaimatambanadzo5900]

​@@TNT_12How do you arrive at that conclusion? He was supposed to go at 2025 but now he has another year and yet you were all saying he is fired even if he won the FA Cup. He is staying.Get over it.

[@wilseph1]

Luckhurst in the mud.

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

When arteta was starting we heard so many good things Give him time He is new He inherited a bad squad He is building something Ten hag has shown that he can win things and has finished in the top 3, and people are acting, like the world is over

[@praktika1082]

Ten Hag is 54 years old. Arteta is 42 years old. Ten Hag is actually older than Pep. The United job wasn't his first. You realize how he approached it? He wanted to recreate his Ajax team. Still does. Joke.

[@Dr_Bharat_Tiwari]

​@@praktika1082 I really wanna know what powerful crap you smoke. Helluva toxic stuff!! EtH is on record vehemently denying that United won't play like Ajax with the players we have. Not liking him is ok, you're entitled to your opinion. But talking Outta yer b* cheeks, while impressive, still makes you a feeble Jim Carrey impersonator at best.

[@dairefinnie1533]

Lol...such a bullshit comparison. At least with arteta had tangible improvements in playing style and squad discipline. Ten hags two years has been an absolute tactical mess...the motivation within the squad is a mess...the fitness is a league wide joke. There is no comparison to Arteta or klopp.

[@jumpa654]

Arsenal had different expectations to Man United. When arteta started at Arsenal, they were finishing in the top 6 quite regularly. But Arteta did worse finishing 8th twice in a row.

[@praktika1082]

@@jumpa654 The Kroenkes understood what the project was and understood the manager needed time. The Kroenkes have history with this sort of a process. If you look at their other sports properties, you see they make a habit of hiring young coaches and giving them time and resources to eventually build championship teams. United is owned by a bunch of people who got into debt to buy the club, transferred that debt to the club itself, and year after year, take their dividends while they wait for the club to appreciate in value before selling it to another vulture.

[@pokeballdkdenmark8464]

This video is so wrong (also other videos about Ten Hag and United) in so many ways and typical of you journalists and pundits who have more joy in sacking managers than speaking about their successes and skills. I know last season wasn't great for United - everyone can agree about that and most fans the reasons why - but in my view, most of the players and the vast majority of the fans' views Ten Hag is the best manager in the world United could have in this moment in time (apart from maybe Klopp which United could never get now) and has by far been the best manager at United since Ferguson left. First of all you talk like INEOS have made the wrong decision, suggesting he'll be sacked by Christmas and never take into consideration what a great manager Ten Hag actually is and what he's capable of - exactly the reason why he's staying and even schooling Pep in the last match on his CV. The problem has been - also in the first season but not so much having a decent team available most of the season - that too many of the players in the United team simply aren't capable of playing the kind of football Ten Hag wants to play. Also not least most of the personel at the club backing his work simply haven't been competent enough. So with the new sporting structure, new coaches coming and hopefully 2 new CB, 1 new LB (if Shaw stays injured), 1 new RB (instead of Wan Bissaka), at least 1 new DMF (2 if Casemiro is sold) and 1 new CF + new promoted youth making sure United has a good enogh team in every match - I'm 100% sure Ten Hag will get better results and the team will play better football in the future under Ten Hag. Not least the team will still do great in the cups but United will also surely get into the top 4 again and maybe even challenge Arsenal and City although he maybe needs another summer transfer window to be able to do that. Now you surely think I'm just another delusional fan, but after this season in a years time I will get back to this video and make you realize how stupid you sounded in this video still thinking it was a big mistake that United kept Ten Hag. P.S. I also wonder if you made a similar video about Arteta after he finished 8th in his first 2 seasons and also looked like fools the year after? Even the best managers need time to build their team and the right conditions to do so but unfortunately very few people understand that anymore and you obviously don't want to.

[@riichobamin7612]

I agree with you 100%

[@garydownes2111]

Agree 100%. This is a nonsense video by “experts” who actually don’t have a clue what the situation is. Athletic are clearly going for “bad news” for clicks & attention, aren’t they? It’s not even the opinions I have the issue, it’s the total absence of quality, honestly it’s embarrassing

[@karenredheadmutdfan4994]

I'm in complete agreement with all your comments. EtH is a very good coach. Their smirky comments show that they probably haven't even researched our Manager's background. They are going in on EtH before the new season has even started. I'm saving this for a later date and would love to see them with egg on their faces.

[@Anthony-hn8fb]

100% agree “Journalist” = liars desperate to get attention

[@stailenknife5453]

He's going to light up the league with a footballing structure behind him

[@brookwakie3406]

Still against ETH huh for God's sake, just leave him be people. I mean, what the hell The season hasn't even started, and you are on his case The Athletic

[@Thegoodbadson]

One thing I know about this page for sure, Yapping is their best Skill. United are done sacking managers after 2 seasons, no player power will be tolerated, deal with it🎉

[@TNT_12]

INEOS just biding their time, mate. Ten Hag's not gonna last much longer

[@Thegoodbadson]

@@TNT_12 u Ronaldo fan boys are something else🤡

[@BigPurp9]

The same people who complain when we reward players with undeserved contracts are celebrating this. Rewarding failure is in our dna now

[@asifiqballyricist]

You guys are so badly biased. Unlike United supporters you guys are not happy to see ETH is continuing. Even before the season started, you are trying to announce his sacking. Its not right at all

[@yingyang1008]

It's more like we are utterly baffled as to why you support this manager - I find it fascinating and don't get what you see in him He's spent 400M quid and now has a way worse team than Ole's one, which finished second playing fun football His tactics were horrific last season, the football was almost impossible to watch, most his signings have been abysmal, his interviews are bland and delusional Is it just cause he won a couple of cups?

[@Dmaj089]

​@@yingyang1008 Rome wasn't built in a day. Ever care to think what that saying means? Nothing incredible happens quickly. Nothing that is worth comes easy. He has 2 cups in 2 years. United was just a year ago backwards being run as a commercial club instead of a football one. INEOS are re- structuring it now. So how about you be patient and stop being smug like you know anything about football

[@yingyang1008]

@@Dmaj089 I genuinely couldn't believe how bad his signings, tactics and playing style were last year The team were lucky to come 8th So I find it surprising that you see something that I don't - you obviously see positive signs that his building something special Whereas all I see is a guy that has wasted 400M quid to make the squad worse than the one he inherited - while playing abysmal tactically-naive football Personally, I think Onana alone will get him sacked as you need a solid keeper in this league Pep quickly realized his error with Bravo - but ETH is too stubborn for that kind of quick decision making

[@Dmaj089]

@@yingyang1008 ten Hag is stubborn, that's true. But I don't see you mentioning our injuries last season, over 30 different CB pairings. Missing our best players. Shaw's absence is clearly the reason for Rashford's poor season. 400 million, only Antony has flopped. Yes, every manager has bought players that flopped. Casemiro was great in his first season, Lisandro is arguably our best defender even with Varane around. Onana came good after his mistakes in the CL. Malacia was good in his first season before his injury. Mount was unlucky with injuries too and is a great player in his day. Don't forget the spat with Sancho. Kobbie and Garnacho came through ten Hag and look at them now in their respective country teams. Despite being under 21. Rashford played his best under him. I've not seen you mentioning the injuries we had, ten Hag was brilliant in his first season and somehow became stupid in his second? Coincidence? No. Injuries. And he won 2 cups in 2 season. Talking Ole and a good squad yet he never won even one trophy. Let the team rebuild. And stop being pessimistic, it's a bad trait

[@yingyang1008]

@@Dmaj089 I don't think ETH was brilliant at all in his first season - they had a disastrous start to the season and were terrible from the League Cup final onwards - including conceding 7 against Liverpool They won a lot of games in the middle third of the season, when Rashford was on fire, but they weren't that great and played a very pragmatic style Last season ETH deployed the most insane tactics I have ever seen at this level - I have never seen a team at any level consistently have a massive gap like that in midfield and be over run by even relegation fodder - they allowed the second highest number of shots against them in EPL history! I saw plenty of their games and found them tedious and unwatchable - no other team in the league would touch Onana with a barge pole Do you seriously think Palace would swap Henderson for Onana? When ETH arrived he had De Gea (aging great), Henderson (solid, good enough to play for England) and Kovar (very very promising) - three great keepers Now he has Onana (dreadful) , Bayinder (a meme in Turkey) and Heaton - that's truly terrible management on every level and is just one example of how bad this guy has damaged your club I loved Ole's team and enjoyed watching them play - they finished second and all the talk at the time was that they needed an elite manager and a couple of signings to properly challenge City Now you are lucky to finish 8th on negative GD after spending 400M quid and playing horrific football I just do not understand the love you have for this guy, he's committing crimes against football

[@milaonkulukusa1392]

Completely wrong title for this video. I can’t believe how much media outlets wanted ETH sacked

[@karenredheadmutdfan4994]

Unfortunately from watching this they still do. I suspect many in the media are regretful they didn't succeed. I think we can expect the same EtH witch-hunt next season. Hope most fans will close ranks in support of the Club, Manager and players against such toxicity. The inevitable comparison between EtH and Arne Slot is likely to be another issue they'll home in on.

[@Dmaj089]

But why are they always against ten Hag? I really don't get the media.

[@praktika1082]

If a manager has spent €643m on 41 players the way Ten Hag has, and finished last season the way he had, he should be laughed out of town.

[@shishsuke]

​@@praktika1082Why stop at €643mn? Why not €920mn when we're just making numbers up?

[@jumpa654]

I think Ten Hag's first season where he finished 3rd in the league and league cup win, kind of saved him from the sack ultimately. The second season was chaotic. Starting with the signings we got: Mount, Hojlund, Onana...mount was injured all season, Hojlund scored 8 goals for Atalanta the season before (so he was never going to come to the Prem and suddenly score 30 goals, which is what we actually need, a striker who can score 30 goals), and Onana who in the end worked out OK for me. Then the Greenwood situation, Sancho saga, and Antony rape claims, along with the Glazers openly wanting to sell the Club, did not help with the team being settled and in a good frame of mind in terms of just focussing on the football. And add to that, the sheer number of injuries we got...it was just all chaotic. This season will be better, well it can't be as chaotic as last season. Glazers finally don't wana sell up, injuries will be back, but we need to sort out Sancho and Greenwood, what is happening with them. That's why I don't blame Ten Hag. Give him a settled club and players, and you'll see what he can do.

[@e14bangbang]

These journalists are stealing a living. At these points these youtube fans and journalists are the better options

[@garydownes2111]

@@e14bangbang this. what a terrible quality video with spoofers trying to dress up a few previously reported facts & a lot of made up stuff with bitter little comments and projection of what fans will want IF things don’t go well in next couple of months .. yet they claim to be experts, serious journalists doing valuable journalism creating content behind a paywall they want people to subscribe to.. So a former journalist that reported on Southampton without any knowledge or contacts at Old Trafford can spoof while talking to 2 nobodies.. I’d almost say the video was click bait to annoy Utd fans but honestly it’s too low quality and absent of any quality to be anything other than an advertisement not to subscribe to the Athletic ..

[@johnwhitehead9030]

I can’t help but get the feeling coming from many journalists is one of sour grapes. Get over it. You were wrong. The vast majority of United fans believed he deserved an opportunity under better leadership and that’s what he got. Regardless of what you all wrote. Dry your eyes and talk about something else. 😂

[@jasonh1020]

No he didn’t

[@steyno7471]

100% agree with you on this

[@sarthakbharara]

This discussion would have been 100x better had there been Ayo, Laurie Whitwell and Andy Mitten instead of these 3.

[@garydownes2111]

@@sarthakbharara this exactly, these spoofers know little or nothing about Ineos & relying on suggested details reported elsewhere.. amazingly low quality

[@antonperuga1833]

Completely agree, this is really poor quality for this outlet

[@user-zc2sz1os3j]

​@@antonperuga1833poor quality, or opinion you don't like?

[@mimikatz]

Carl Anka too😊

[@garydownes2111]

@@user-zc2sz1os3j I’m guessing quality, especially as this video is being described as journalistic insight rather than an opinion piece .. which is kind of pathetic really considering the half arsed spoofing in this

[@MrMoneyLong]

He’s been confirmed as rheumatologist manager , but you media lot still asking why he survived. Eni Kure

[@aaronong5506]

Can believe another anti Ten Haag piece. These journalists are clueless

[@SeeUatTheTop_]

Yet another truly embarrassing United related video from the Athletic. ‘Journalism’ really is in the gutter if these lot are the supposed ‘gold standard’ of the industry. Can’t for the life of them put aside any bias and look at things objectively. Might as well just watch fan cams at this point.

[@garydownes2111]

@@SeeUatTheTop_ this. this nonsense by spoofers with no insights is supposed to be motivation for people to pay subscription to get behind a pay wall.. imagine that lol 😂

[@tendaimatambanadzo5900]

Its incredible.The obsession with Ten Hag is incredible.He is still in his job in spite of their overt attempts to have him fired.They are hoping United do badly so that they can jump on him.

[@steyno7471]

Tell me you dont like Ten Hag without telling me you dont like Ten Hag. Thats the vibe of these guys.

[@yingyang1008]

I hate ETH mate - he's committing crimes against football, made United unwatchable

[@MarkyParky1000]

Backing of some sorts... end of video.

[@jalenn757]

Its really simple. If the player's aren't "having him," then they should be sold. The FANS have had enough of player power. We believe in ten hag!

[@crisseven1764]

Erik Ten Hag In!

[@boortsy12]

ten hag is an excellent coach. he just needs to get rid of who aren’t motivated anymore (the rashfords of the world) and replace them with players who stay fit and want to play for the badge.

[@stevem9529]

Like Anthony?

[@MrKajjaGG]

​@@stevem9529Antony was valued at £25m before the United hierarchy got involved. Definitely worth £25m on a punt. Can't really blame EtH for club incompetence.

[@st3pp3nw0lf86]

Maybe he should have said no, not at that price?

[@DirkAndDestroy]

@@MrKajjaGG You absolutely can at that price

[@MrKajjaGG]

We desperately needed a winger after Mason turned nonce. Had we not signed him, who was going to fill that role? Especially after Sancho turned full moron. Ajax didn't need to sell, but did at the start of the window. We stalled and they upped their price 3x.

[@MarkaryansChain]

Can we PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop talking about he can veto a player like it's something unique? EVERY single manager in the PL has that right, it's nothing special. Dan Ashworth even talked about it when he was at Brighton by saying how stupid it would be for a club to buy an expensive player the manager didn't want, risking the manager not playing that player. Come on, guys. You should know this, it's your job to know this.

[@jadmantoura4483]

With a backroom and executive team that now have their heads screwed on, ears to the ground and know what they're doing, that is without question a step in the right direction for Manchester United, if not for the majority of us that have thoroughly enjoyed their drawn out self implosion since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. But if there are still players in the camp that only show up when they feel like it and down tools whenever they're sick of a manager, then the job will never be completely done. There are still some rotten apples in that dressing room, and they need to be gotten rid of. To take a quote from Mikel Arteta, who I think should be taken seriously based on the turnaround he's orchestrated at Arsenal, they need players that are "on the boat". And if they're not, then chuck them overboard. This isn't a charity or a retirement home. This is Manchester United, the most successful club in English football, and for far too long, players have been allowed to have ideas above their station and have been way too powerful. That needs to end with this "new era".

[@milaonkulukusa1392]

Couldn’t agree more

[@tommynguyen5935]

Journalists when the manager that they wanted sacked is actually supported quite well by the players and majority of the fans: 😮. It’s always the vocal minorities (like most of these journalist and some fans) that yelled about the sacking all year yet now has to back petal and pretend that they were in the right all along

[@antonperuga1833]

Mark Critchly "United can't afford to be chopping and changing manager's... and thats what they're doing here with Ten Hag' How is ETH staying and example of chop and change?? 🤔

[@garydownes2111]

@@antonperuga1833 exactly, they want to sell the “crisis” narrative but can’t make it make any sense..

[@garydownes2111]

@@antonperuga1833 exactly, they can’t keep their position straight

[@tendaimatambanadzo5900]

​@@garydownes2111its absolutely ridiculous.

[@e14bangbang]

You can tell these journalists grew up supporting arsenal liverpool and others similar watching sir alex and united winning everything. The bitterness is clear to see

[@yingyang1008]

To appoint Ferguson, they had to sack Atkinson

[@yingyang1008]

Yes, they grew up being used to United having a great manager playing great football So they find it hard to understand why United fans seem to have so much love for a manager that has produced such terrible tactically-naive football, while making some of the worst signings in the league's history They were lucky to finish 8th last year

[@jaan-arya]

You journalist have no idea about football, stop your Ten Hag Aggenda he will continue to progress and win trophies not like Eddie Howe and Arteta.

[@yingyang1008]

He finished 8th on negative GD mate - everyone is delighted you kept this guy on

[@craigbuckland6584]

I think what a lot of people are overlooking is that Ashworth is a guy who gets philosphies going and has never worked at the elite end, which is what alot of United fans have been in denial about for a long time. Many have been snobbish about alot of players, before Liverpool signed Mane their fanbase was "we don't sign from Southampton ". United squadwise are a musclebound midtable club. Realising that and building is essential for them to competing again. Superstar signings rarely work. The only thing is just stealing the best in their role from different clubs is often they are only the best because they fit an organisation that suits them. It's exactly the the same with players and managers, it can often be right person wrong time. Borada at City looks amazing because Pep is their coach, Edwards at Liverpool became so in demand because Klopp was coaching his signings.

[@craigbuckland6584]

It's very similar to Chelsea: Brighton were the shining light of what a club should be so we'll just take what they have. It doesn't work like that, the Galacticos were the best players of their time but never won the Champions League.

[@thedeliciousdelightoflivin4636]

EVERYONE is on trial Ten hag has won more in football than ineos the organisation, including 2 trophies at a dysfunctional United at top level. Therefore he can rightfully claim to be best in class at least as much as ineos As individuals in football Blanc is best in class Barada as CEO is yet to prove himself ashworth as SD at a global club is yet to prove himself Wilcox as TD at a global club is yet to prove himself new assistant managers at a global club are yet to prove themselves Brailsford at a global club is yet to prove himself Radcliffe as owner at a global club is yet to prove himself It is though a very impressive team and gives me more optimism than previously

[@ravbruh6357]

Can we allow the new ineos backroom staff to settle in and pick their head coach

[@cairoramesses953]

go do your reseach on ALEX FERGUSON 1ST 2 SEASONS

[@user-zc2sz1os3j]

Are you seriously comparing EtH to sir Alex?

[@yingyang1008]

So you agree that Atkinson should have been sacked?

[@thegloryhunter3118]

One can see all these Journos are but hurt we are actually making a positive change to the structure and Mufc might just be successful again

[@yingyang1008]

If you come 8th on negative goal difference after spending 400M quid at a top club, you usually lose your job - especially given new owners have come in So it's a genuine surprise they kept him on - not sure what's hard to understand about this United fans seem to love this guy for some reason - but rival fans are also delighted he's staying on

[@haimainjauo242]

Should've let Adam take the bathroom break he so clearly needed.

[@robertblake1228]

We need way less injuries, better and more players or nothing will change no matter who the manager is.

[@choosyooozy139]

The club can do no right in the eyes of this lot.. What a negative spin on such an exciting new Era...UNITED!!!!🔴🔴🔴🔴

[@sunnyonsys]

They discuss things as if Jim ratcliffe is on the phone to them every evening and end discussions with words like may be perhaps should be could be 🤣🤣

[@ShayHezarkhani]

24:30 well he did only play three full seasons for ManUtd, so considering that, his stats are f*cking amazing.

[@geir8849]

The most important thing for the new structure is to sort of the recruitment, and they have to make it a successful summer transfer window. This is the only way they can properly back Ten Hag. 3 new players does not work. They need 5-7 new players, and the right players. Only then Ten Hag can achieve success.

[@yingyang1008]

ETH wasted 400M on players that have drastically declined in value - now they have little left due to FPP

[@richanschmidt2628]

E Ten Hag is a winner and we really don’t care what you lot think. :)

[@annabee75]

those guys don't know that every manager at the top has a veto right? Just imagine if that wasn't. that's crazy kids talk

[@anjolatope-babalola2338]

I would say this,i hope these pundits had the same reaction two years into arteta job, if not they are hypocrites

[@user-zc2sz1os3j]

If they didn't they know their football.

[@Kaiz-]

Not at all, with arteta you could actually see what he was trying to do. This bald prick is two years and is playing worse football than ole.

[@durthacht]

For just a second I thought Ed Sheeran had joined The Athletic.

[@platonic7272]

It's not an extension..it's an activation of an option that already existed within the contract.

[@tendaimatambanadzo5900]

So what? He is staying.

[@platonic7272]

@@tendaimatambanadzo5900 @tendaimatambanadzo5900 Contract law is very precise, it specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties... unlike the way people report the news, I am just letting people know the facts.

[@karthikg1990]

Why haven't they got time again. This is exactly what SJR was saying also. Appointing all these people doesn't mean magic wand and hurray PL title. You have to give them time to work.

[@craigbuckland6584]

I would like to bet the dismissal fee wouldn't have increased much or at all with the extension. All this does is allow to keep ten Haag at the same rate for an extra year. If Utd struggle at the start Touchel is coming in. Why would Tommy T say he isn't taking any other job straight after hi Utd interview. The extension for ETH is just an insurance policy on Ineos' side

[@overman2306]

There's no good managers available anymore. Teams are going to have to work with what they've got.

[@nicholaspatel6567]

You guys should run a football club, sounds like tosh.

[@thegloryhunter3118]

Agree

[@user-nu8qn6li4u]

Does Ten hlHag also have veto on outgoing?

[@chishamubambe2228]

I respect everyone’s opinions but some of the things being said here are embarrassing. Erik deserves a chance to prove everyone wrong. The whole team was limping last season. Let’s see how he will do with a full strength squad for much of next season.

[@wilseph1]

Luckhurst really tried to have a go. Comical.

[@fplgregfrost]

bald is the future of all management

[@yuni360]

worst manager is Arteta if thats the case 😂

[@Foxtrot6624]

@@yuni360He’s copied pep as much as he can already, the hair has to be the next to go if he’s to take Arsenal to the next level

[@ianworley8169]

Having arrived at United in 86 and not winning his first trophy until the end of the 92/3 season, what would these 'experts' have made of Fergie's prospects at United? ETH has reached 3 finals and won 2 trophies in his first two seasons, with THAT crappy team. Give him a break and move on now FFS.

[@KRISCHENATH]

I doubt they will sack in 3-4 months into the season. Wrong analysis. INEOS has been backing him in the transfer market. I think it will be the same as last season. Ten Hag will goes a full season, then INEOS do a full review before deciding whether Ten Hag is the man for the long term. The way you lot giggles to one another like little girls clearly show that media have agenda against the Manager and Man United overall. Already passing judgement on INEOS work before season has even begin.

[@juliafarino]

I usually rate The Athletic for having balanced discussions but it's lazy and poor reporting to say that INEOS spoke to "every manager under the sun".

[@web_alchemist_]

This is a ETH hate support session 😂

[@craigbuckland6584]

Let's not forget Utd didn't have a female side 5/6 years ago. The owners were pressured into starting 1. They have no history but are just a deficit on the club.

[@nares2005]

If Ten Hag doing alright next season will you bring these 2 clowns back and talk about it?

[@brumejabs]

None of you have considered the role the complications and timeline for negotiating a new deal played here. Shame on you.

[@choosyooozy139]

Do all Journalists look like they live at home with their moms...

[@gantna]

The title put me off do better athletic

[@garydownes2111]

@@gantna honestly the quality of this video is appalling & an indication of the declining standards of the Athletic football content generally. I don’t mind different opinions than my own but this is pretending to have insight & explain the updated club structure when it’s literally 3 spoofers that know little or nothing about the club, contract positions or player sentiment etc.. A nothing sandwich with a bitter taste from salty tears from their disappointment that ETH wasn’t sacked & Tuchel hired.. Their concept of “risk” is laughable, like the argument of not extending a contract by 12 months in case everything goes badly in next 3 months while also criticizing the creation of uncertainty .. despite how that would have been worse with a manager going into the last 12 months of their contract without certainty? And arguing cost of sacking a manager later when ETH is under contract now so that would have applied equally if he was sacked earlier this summer? .. clowns 🤡

[@vikmewasingh9402]

Very poor from the Athletic - typical saltiness as all other media outlets / tabloids. Why dont they take the same stand on other teams ,like when Arteta finished 8th or why dont they investigate on more important issues like Man City's 115 charges??? Scaredy cats pathetic journos

[@chishamubambe2228]

When did it ever look like the players weren’t playing for him? Stop the propaganda

[@karl343]

What a load of nonsense, the players aren't playing for Ten Hag? Did you watch the FA Cuo final? We were ravaged with injuries all season, even the likes of Pep/Klopp would've struggled in the same situation. I can only recall one/two games all season were I thought the players didn't put the effort in, ETH definitely has a lot of support within the dressing room.

[@user-zc2sz1os3j]

Please go check Liverpool's injury list from last season, and don't ever mention EtH in the same breath as Klopp.

[@anwayarath6453]

@@user-zc2sz1os3jyou idiot, eth has won more than klopp in his first 2 years

[@predeshinreddy2080]

Always looking for drama and ratings, United always gets the most

[@aksyn47]

These 3 sounds sour or butt hurt about ETH keeping his job. It's 11th seasons with different managers, no guarantee another manager will do any better inherit an average team. Smart fans knows we not expecting much next season regardless who manages.

[@yingyang1008]

Ole finished second, scoring loads of goals ETH has since spent 400M and had two seasons to implement his 'style' And you're happy with 8th on -ve GD

[@aksyn47]

@@yingyang1008 No I'm not surprise where our position is. We are an average team that delusional fans thinks we the shit because of history. All the strikers Ole had has been reduced to 20yrs old Rasmus. Ole got 2nd so? I don't remember 2nd place trophy cabinet displayed @ OT. We should stop using these managers has a scapegoat of our Club's 11 season mess. Hence Ineos is making moves from the top. ETH or not, just based on the team currently, this summer transfer will not fix the team drastically. I will not be surprise if we end up tropyles next season. At best 4th or 5th. Ineos effect will take about 2, 3 or more seasons. So chill back, the glory days is not coming anytime soon definitely not next season.

[@yingyang1008]

@@aksyn47 More importantly - you need a new keeper. People don/t want to talk about it, but you can't build anything on such flimsy foundations. That's another 50M wasted right there. ETH inherited De Gea, Henderson and Kovar - maybe the best GK squad in the league And now has Onana, Bayinder and Heaton - arguably the worst That's horrific squad management - do you think Palace would swap Henderson for Onana - no way And that's just one example of how this guy has damaged the club for years to come

[@aksyn47]

​​@@yingyang1008 personally we don't really need to hunt for keeper. Onana is not that bad if we can have a consistent back 4 in front of him. Onana was the best keeper in CL before we bought him from Inter. ETH has mess the team up for years? What was the team like before we hired ETH I might ask? You act like we gave him a championship squad? We haven't won a trophy since Jose Mourinho. It took us 8yrs to win fa Cup since Lvg. So please explain how he damage our Club that is already messed up? Look it's a new revolution with Ineos in charge rather than the Glazers, we move forward to the future. Regardless, a new manager will still need to give them time.

[@yingyang1008]

@@aksyn47 Ole's squad finished second and only lost the UEFA on penalties, playing fun football and scoring loads of goals All the talk at the time was that United needed an elite manager and a couple of top signings to go that last step and actually challenge City Now, 400M quid later, you are 8th on negative GD with a worse squad playing the worst football I have ever seen As for Onana - I genuinely don't think any other team in the league would go near him, whereas Henderson is a very respectable and solid keeper, not elite but good enough for England/8th place team NO way Palace would swap Henderson for Onana - loads of teams would be interested in Henderson if he became available

[@methik38]

Thanks for paying 12 mill for him

[@Alp-xe6ty]

This has such an anti United/negative theme to it. Everuthing is vobsidered in hebkeast vharitable way possible and phrasing it as hes been given extra time despite finishing 8th just totally ignotes that he also finished 3rd and has won two trophoes. This actually came across as a conversation I'd expect to hear on a fan channel or sonething like DR sports.....not objective, fair journalism that considers multiple angles and perspectives. My guess wpuld be that jone of the presenters like Manchester United and thats fine but something like The Athletic is supposed to be more porfessional than that. Dont think this is a fair or holistic discussion at all, just cones across as pretty bitchy and amateur.

[@larslorentsen4566]

Very disappointing for The Athletic and the rest of the British media. You were SO wrong!

[@praktika1082]

Ten Hag survived at United because no capable managerial candidate would touch that clusterfuck of a club with a ten-foot pole.

[@isaacmtshali8187]

Quality players…will be the only saving grace for MU…Stop the nonsense vendetta against Erik… Typical

[@juliomundo5236]

Wait so it's a huge financial risk to keep him? But it wouldn't be to sack him, pay him out, hire another manager and possibly sack that manager with a payout as well? What kind of drugged up logic is that? Lololol

[@yingyang1008]

Well he has cost the fortune tens of millions in lost CL revenue and the loss of value on his terrible signings

[@petermarshall9162]

What if the new manager had a disastrous few months he should get the sack according to your logic

[@user-zc2sz1os3j]

No. He would be a new manager not someone who would've been there for three seasons.

[@yingyang1008]

Yeah, that's usually how it goes Would Madrid or Bayern stick with a terrible manager?

[@triggasoweto6734]

Everybody forget Erik's 1st season exists. Anyway these lot are praying for Erik's downfall. Never seen a manager have so many ppl want him gone, and these lot are not United fans.. Only Ornstein offers a fair judgetment.

[@yingyang1008]

Form since the League Cup win has been atrocious, they also started that season very badly - so for half of that season they were struggling, including losing 7 against Liverpool And the fact he has gone from third to eighth, after spending yet more money and having more time to enforce his 'style', is surely a concern

[@jasonmcintosh3272]

Just UNBELIEVABLE!!! Could The Athletic picked any more salty commentators about United , INEOS or ETH . Really sore that ETH is staying. Literally nothing positive here at all about our changes in the board. The Athletic definitely not gaining any MUFC members with this tripe!!! Lol!! Only plus with this lot is Laurie Whitwell and David Ornstein.

[@yingyang1008]

I think people are genuinely bewildered at the decision to keep ETH after the disaster of last season, his signings, his tactics, etc.... I don't have anything against United, but couldn't believe how terrible they were last season He's spent 400M and took them to 8th on negative GD - Ole finished second Fair enough they had injuries, but I saw his tactics - they were utterly insane

[@bishopsmart5582]

This video doesn’t look like a proper journalistic analysis, all I hear is making fun and indirectly insulting the manager. Is this actually proper journalism?

[@mimikatz]

What is wrong with that Adam guy and his incessant demands that everything must work now and immediately. The demands against INEOS are crazy and themselves have said 2-3 years. So sit back and relax.

[@prakhardeogirikar]

The difference between repeating "Ineos is taking a risk on ETH" about 17 times in the whole video shows the clear bias of Athletic and their reports, instead of using sentences like "sticking with ETH" or "Trusting in ETH" or "continuing believing in ETH". I'm in communication and i know rough scripts are written for such shows. The reporters have enough langauge and editing skills to change this. And yet, choose talk only about the event in which United fails, ETH doesn't perform etc. Never anything on the other side, when he starts performing. How is this journalism? @Athletic - you always have a moderator and about 2 journalists minimum on the show. And yet, no one hears contradictory statements in the market, no one thinks in a different direction. How is that possible when rumours aay all sorts of things? Do all your reporters talk to the same sources? I think there's scope for some re-jigging in your backroom department too, guys! And that will always be taking a risk in people, not believing in them! 😂

[@yingyang1008]

He's the manager of arguably the biggest club in the world - and finished 8th on negative goal difference after spending 400M quid Of course the narrative is negative against him - any other top club would have sacked him So it is surprising - Like nearly everyone, I assumed he would be gone as soon as top 4 was mathematically impossible

[@prakhardeogirikar]

@@yingyang1008 everything you said is correct. (except that United spending 400m is with United Tax. For others it would be 200m. 😂 That's nothing special about ETH, it's Man Utd special) And you and i can say it. Because these are opinions. We aren't masquerading as journalists and shaping the narrative against a club or a man. Like i said before, to frame it negatively a couple of times is normal. But have no other way of framing it, even when you script out your answers, that's bias.

[@AnthonyLunt]

The athletic has lost a lot of credibility with its myopic take on football based on its preconceived agendas against certain club’s plus it’s choice of writers who have little in the way of actual football knowledge

[@rajeevk4972]

Tty mediocre

[@dmullar5226]

Turned off after 6 minutes.... more trash talk....if you think United won't be better with fit players/players that suit Ten Hag (not Maguire/Lindelof) ye are in the wrong profession

[@yingyang1008]

he's already wasted 400M, how much more does he need to spend to not finish 8th on negative GD?

[@mdb6673]

What are this bunch on about? 😂😂😂 A whole lot of talking but nothing was said. 😂 So in the minds of these dudes sticking with a manager who has won you 2 trophies in 2 seasons even after the many injuries we had is taking a risk? 😂

[@garydownes2111]

@@mdb6673 this.. a nothing sandwich by spoofers lol

[@tendaimatambanadzo5900]

How these guys get paid for this nonsense is beyond me.

[@vilhelmthomsen1941]

Let me get this straight? You are preparing for next seasons the british media against ETH?? Get a life?

[@thelivingprophecyleander8470]

You guys were 😂obviously super high while recording this the bull ya'll talking defy football logic totally first of all sacking Erick would have cost more in a sense of getting someone new in and then having 2 rebuild completely 🙄 as with Erik we would be going into the 3th year of this project i honestly wonder how much ya'll earn for being so ill informed about topics ya'll talking about in terms of his contract like are ya'll really that stupid it takes time 2 negotiate a new contract hence he just got an extension just 2 settle some urest going into the new season like guys come on Ineos don't want Erik to have the amount of control he has on his current terms but they had 2 give him something just 2 settle some of the unrest ...so you gonna tell me thee recruitment of Rude and Rene is Ineos led 🤔nope it ain't it's led by Erik and ya'll been overhyping Dan the same guy that thinks Gareth Southgate is a great coach 🤦🏾ya'll gotta stop for real it's ridiculous by the way Newcastle signed a guy in Dan's place who is way better then Dan just go and check who Paul actually signed at Southampton and what they went on 2 go do in their respective careers then do the same for Dan let me just name on in the case of Dan Caicedo he gotta absolutely wacked in the first round of the league last season by a shitty United midfield ya'll have little 2 none football knowledge

[@Sssshhhhhhhhhhhh]

Pathetic.

[@solomonnyam657]

Cry babies moaning about everything.. nobody gives a heck about what y’all say! United is in proper hands now.. deal with it! And who the hell are you guys talking about there’s no time and excuses and blah blah!

[@simonb7048]

totally skipped the womens team section cos cba tbh

[@mimikolomamu]

what is cba?

[@ameyamurkute]

If id get paid to count the amount of times the word "Sacking" was used in this video, id be a millionaire 😂. Just shows how much the media creams over the idea of someone getting sacked... As dyche would have said "Utter Woke Nonsense" 😂

[@oumaduthsauba4053]

Who are these jokers 🃏

[@rubanc7406]

You're much better than this Athletic. Behave yourselves.

[@tumelomenoe2576]

No exaggeration but this is the worst Athletic podcast I’ve heard. I mean this was completely negative without providing any nuance whatsoever. The top United journalists should have been involved. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with criticism but this just didn’t sound like it. You have Mark Critchley giggling with every questioned asked. About everything said here we’ve seen top teams implement and they were never given such hideous criticism. Again this would’ve been better with either Laurie,Carl or Adam.

[@miacaliper6244]

Cuz Ineos are fools and wanted good PR

[@mdb6673]

🤷🏾‍♂️ Okay. 😂😂😂😂

[@nutsarachanphut4141]

In short ETH misprioritise players that sign and became 💩 Antony, Mount & Malacia etc…thus with Ineos things will be put into place and with the new tech director

[@DavidVeitch54]

Not a very promising start when Barreda tapped up Ashworth while on gardening leave and then the messiah, Ashworth communicating with him a big YES to join UNITED on ineos letterhead and it being cced to Newcastle United. Best of luck. 🤣

[@userjim83]

Some serious cope in the comments

[@yingyang1008]

I find it kinda fascinating the love they have for this guy - in all my years, I've never seen anything like this, doesn't make sense on any level

[@Munzy965]

Trash

[@xaltotunacheron7544]

This people keep proving themself time after time that they got like zero clue about what they are talking about. At this point just bunch of woke activists

[@sajidnasim007]

Thank God United and United Fans don't think like this. The more this agenda is continued, the more isolated mainstream media will be from united fans. I'm fine to boycott if this bias continues.

[@yingyang1008]

If he finishes 8th again on negative GD next season - will you still support him? What will it take for you to question this guy?

[@sajidnasim007]

@@yingyang1008 The issues are obvious, we need to deal with them first.if it's the case, we will revisit it next season. What if the whole team goes down with a plane again, will you still sack him. I cant work on what if's.

[@yingyang1008]

@@sajidnasim007 I'm just genuinely fascinated at the love United fans have for this guy All your rivals are delighted you have kept him on - I honestly see him as one of the worst managers I have ever seen, I don't think any other team in the league would go near him if he was available Tactics, style, goals, interviews, signings, man management - he has failed badly in all areas from what I can see This isn't an anti-United agenda - it's genuine bewilderment

[@sajidnasim007]

​@yingyang1008 Only time will tell. Too early to judge especially with how badly United is run. We have bugger issues than the Manager at the moment.

[@yingyang1008]

@@sajidnasim007 I don't think it's too early at all to say that he has made some dreadful signings, played horrific football, and deployed insanely naive tactics We all saw how they played last year

[@yingyang1008]

Fans at United's rivals are all delighted ETH is staying on - the love for this manager among the United fan base defies all logic The football they played last year was so utterly horrific and tactically naive - there was literally a huge gap that every opposition team exploited for almost 50 games in a row until Wilcox told him to play more pragmatically for the last few games of the season His signings have been amongst the worst ever in the league's history, his interviews are delusional and totally lacking in personality/charisma - he has strained/broken relationships with numerous players Genuinely find it fascinating - Onana alone will probably cost him his job next year, as you can't build anything with a keeper like that, especially not in the EPL

[@_7.8.6]

Typical English pessimism

[@ImmuneGEORGE]

Absolutely baffling decision keeping probably the worst manager in the top half. The board have been unable to persuade any other top-level manager to take the job and have caved to fan pressure in keeping a genuinely awful, tactically inept manager. Man Utd conceded the 2nd most shots in PL HISTORY. That has never happened before for a team that weren't relegated. They finished 15th on the expected points table ffs. Insane decision 🤣🤣

[@Aeway100]

Now say it without crying.

[@Thegoodbadson]

You sound really emotional mate, I heard ten Hag took your girl. Well it’s a valid reason to be m@d cause you are not the man

[@Arg.Comps10]

I agree with u but its happened now so u jus gotta back it n hope he turns it around and not want it to go wrong to say i told u so

[@Stegibbon]

What amazingly skin deep analysis.

[@mdb6673]

​@@StegibbonIkr. With the laughing emoji at the end to mask the tears.