Man Utd chiefs ‘locked in blame game’ over Erik ten Hag ‘summer shambles’

Manchester United officials are reportedly engaged in a blame game over their chaotic summer which saw Erik ten Hag handed a new contract and backed in the transfer market before being sacked a few months later.

United had a difficult 2023/24 season, with eighth place being the club's lowest in the Premier League era, while they also crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage.

There was much speculation about Ten Hag's future in the summer, until Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos-led football structure decided to stay with the Dutchman and initiate a contract extension.

This came after a lengthy end-of-season review that saw several other managers courted, with Mail Sport reporting how Thomas Tuchel even met Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco to share his potential plans for the club.

United then spent more than £200 million in the summer market as Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte all joined the first team.

Ten Hag led the chase for many of these stars, while his backroom staff was also strengthened by the arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rene Hake, Andreas Georgson and Jelle ten Rouwelaar.

However, United's form did not improve and Ten Hag was sacked last month, with United languishing in fourteenth place in the Premier League.

And according to The Sun, the hierarchy at Old Trafford are now arguing over who was responsible for the unsatisfactory series of events.

The club's recruitment strategy is also under question, despite the recent arrivals of sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Of the newcomers, only former Bayern Munich star Mazaraoui has convinced so far, with Yoro out injured since pre-season.

Elsewhere, Dutch duo De Ligt and Zirkzee have also struggled to find their feet, while Ugarte is yet to fully adapt to the English game.

Zirkzee has scored just once for United in seventeen games in all competitions.

The report goes on to explain that Ratcliffe and Co had planned to leave out Ten Hag before the FA Cup final, but United defeated arch-rivals Man City 2-1 after a brilliant performance.

That result changed their opinion of Ten Hag, but his dismissal just a few months later cost the club £15 million.

The Red Devils subsequently spent more than £10 million to secure the signings of Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff in what proved to be an expensive exercise.

Amorim will take charge of his first United match next Sunday when they travel to Ipswich as the Portuguese looks to turn the club's season around.

United sit 13th in the Premier League, while 15th in the Europa League League stage, having won just one of their four games so far.

Last week, former Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim, speaking for the first time since taking the job, warned his players to play 'without fear from day one' as he wants to be the man to turn United around.

“We know it will take time and we will try to gain time with the matches,” he said.

“But we have to start from day one without fear, without thinking that [players] are not used to playing like that. This is not on my mind.

'In any case, they will start working on our idea on the first day. That's the goal.

'I know it's going to be tough. I know it's a huge challenge, but I feel quite relaxed.

'I feel at home there and I think that is important in the beginning. So I'm very excited.

'I know that the manager or head coach is so important in the club, because you have the engine of the club in your hands. I understand that.

“But I want to be part of something. I don't just want to be in charge. So I want everyone together. It will be more fun and so much easier to achieve the goals.”