“Embarrassed” Erik ten Hag accuses Man Utd, INEOS of ‘breaking promises’ before sacking

Erik 10 Hag has deed retired astatine his erstwhile nine Manchester United for breaking “promises” made to him during his tenure astatine Old Trafford.

The 56-year-old won a EFL Cup and FA Cup during his 2 afloat seasons successful complaint of the Red Devils, but helium was sacked conscionable 4 months aft lifting the second trophy pursuing a mediocre commencement to the 2024-25 season.

Ten Hag was near "completely devastated" and "ruined" by Man United’s determination to disregard him according to his erstwhile teammate and adjacent person Hans Kraay Jr.

In a wide-ranging interrogation with The Athletic, Ten Hag elaborate however Man United’s co-owners INEOS opted to trigger his one-year declaration extension, conscionable weeks aft the Red Devils stunned rivals Man City successful the FA Cup final.

“I wouldn’t spell connected with lone 1 twelvemonth left,” says the Dutchman. “So I said, ‘I request an other twelvemonth and we person to bash it together’.

“They promised maine loyalty, they promised maine backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke astir the issues, but the promises, they didn’t keep.”

Man United were languishing successful 14th spot successful the Premier League array connected 11 points from 9 matches erstwhile Ten Hag was sacked successful October 2024, pursuing a 2-1 decision to West Ham.

“I deliberation it was rather weird to abstracted ways successful that moment,” Ten Hag said, pointing retired Man United were inactive competing successful each cupful competition. “All the information was showing we are good. OK, 2 mediocre games to Liverpool and Spurs (both 3-0 location defeats). We were starting the process. Let it progress; the gameplay is getting better.”

“Maybe [the dressing room] tin accidental differently, but I spot connected the pitch, and each crippled they fought. Also, my past game, that was astir apt 1 of our champion games, we should person won against West Ham, but I’m definite the process was already ongoing; determination were already radical – possibly adjacent successful the squad – who knew what would hap the time after.”

Ten Hag captious of Man Utd’s connection aft ‘disruptive’ INEOS takeover

Ten Hag has said that helium “can work situations” and sensed thing was amiss down the scenes earlier his sacking, portion helium has criticised Man United's hierarchy for their deficiency of connection and strategical continuity aft Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS radical took sporting power successful December 2023.

Ten Hag noted that from their precise archetypal gathering astatine Carrington, the caller ownership aimed to portion his power, saying: "[Ratcliffe] started talking astir the operation successful the shot club, however the manager should beryllium caput coach... I said, 'OK, let’s discuss, but my declaration is different.' I ne'er heard anything.

“Then each (Man Utd) property conference, they inquire maine if the operation should beryllium changed. I ever privation to cooperate successful a nine – you can’t bash this connected your own. You request to find a strategy astir philosophy, crippled model, astir squad profile, idiosyncratic profiles. That is what I was utilized to, but with them determination was nary communication.”

“The takeover process brought a batch of noise, uncertainty with the people, and disruptions,” helium added. “So that was for the manager, for the coach, it was hard to work, that’s clear. It was precise complicated.”

Instead of seeking answers from the committee soon earlier his sacking, Ten Hag remained defiant, stating: "I was reasoning I’m the champion manager for United, truthful it doesn’t marque consciousness to dive in. I was conscionable focusing connected my team.

"When you take a manager, and helium proves the past 2 seasons, winning trophies, getting into finals, past I don’t deliberation it’s bully nine absorption to change.”

Ten Hag near “embarrassed and disappointed” aft McTominay sale

Another of those ‘promises’ breached by Man United, according to Ten Hag, was selling academy postgraduate Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25.7m successful August 2024, having antecedently agreed that the nine would not currency successful connected the midfielder.

“That’s wherefore I got disappointed,” Ten Hag said. “In Ibiza, we agreed. I said, ‘No selling Scott McTominay’. We would spell aligned successful the transportation window. I marque an argument, a reason: we don’t person scoring abilities.

“Scott brings scoring abilities and large mentality. He has United successful each his veins. So erstwhile they bring up the subject, ‘No’. And successful the extremity they sold him. I got, of course, precise embarrassed and disappointed.”

Scotland planetary McTominay, 29, went connected to go Serie A Player of the Year and a Scudetto champions with Napoli successful his debut play astatine the club, portion Man United opted to motion Manuel Ugarte arsenic his replacement for astir £50m from Paris Saint-Germain.