Erik ten Hag has delivered a frank evaluation of Manchester United’s ongoing difficulties, insisting that changing managers repeatedly will not fix the club’s underlying problems. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United has gone through a series of high-profile managers—David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick, and now Ten Hag himself—yet despite heavy financial investment and constant tactical adjustments, the club continues to struggle.
According to Ten Hag, United’s troubles stem not from the quality of their managers but from deeper issues within the club’s footballing structure and decision-making processes. He highlighted that without a clear sporting strategy and a capable football director, no manager can succeed. The club’s decision-making, Ten Hag suggested, is frequently driven by commercial considerations rather than footballing priorities.
This approach prevents managers from implementing long-term plans or building a cohesive squad. Unlike rivals such as Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal—who have established clear recruitment strategies and footballing identities—United operates reactively, addressing problems with short-term fixes and expensive signings rather than tackling the root causes of their instability.
This sentiment isn’t new. Former United managers have voiced similar concerns. José Mourinho previously criticized the club’s lack of a solid foundation for sustained success, while Ralf Rangnick famously stated that United needed “open-heart surgery” to address their deep structural flaws. Despite these warnings, the club continues to suffer from inconsistency, a lack of direction, and financial issues. Recent reports indicated a £27.7 million loss in the final quarter of 2024, partly due to managerial sackings and the financial impact of missing out on Champions League football.
There is some hope for change with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group now overseeing football operations at the club. This shift in leadership has already prompted cost-cutting measures and operational adjustments, though the response has been mixed. Some pundits, including Jamie Redknapp, have warned that United could face “18 months of pain” before any meaningful progress becomes visible. He emphasized that patience and a cultural transformation are necessary if the club is to rebuild properly and return to the top.
The appointment of Ruben Amorim as manager was seen as a move towards fresh ideas and tactical innovation. However, instead of revitalizing the team, United’s struggles have only deepened. Currently sitting 15th in the Premier League, the club is battling poor on-field performances alongside financial limitations that make strengthening the squad difficult.
While every new managerial appointment brings a sense of renewed hope among supporters, Ten Hag’s comments make it clear that United’s future success will depend on addressing the systemic and cultural issues that have plagued the club for over a decade. Until those core problems are resolved, the cycle of frustration and disappointment is likely to continue.
