Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos were “probably” interested in two managers for their “instinct” and “using the force of their personality.”
Erik ten Hag is expected to remain at Old Trafford for the 2024-25 season after Manchester United completed their season review.
The United manager is under contract until 2025 and Erik ten Hag’s long-term future at the club has been shrouded in mystery in recent months.
Ten Hag endured a tough second season at Old Trafford, with United languishing in eighth place in the Premier League table.
United will miss out on the Champions League next season, but the Red Devils did secure Europa League football after their FA Cup triumph.
Ten Hag ended the turbulent campaign on a high note after United secured a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday confirmed that the former Ajax boss had been told he would not be on the chopping block at United.
Fabrizio Romano revealed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos will stick with Ten Hag for the 2024-25 season.
Ten Hag, who arrived at United from Ajax in 2022, is also set to receive a new contract ahead of his current deal expiring in 2025.
Neville talks two Man Utd-linked managers
Manchester United were linked with several managers amid the 2023-24 season and the previous uncertainty around Erik ten Hag’s future at the club.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was tipped as a potential replacement for Ten Hag after he left Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
Mauricio Pochettino was also linked with United, despite being sacked from Chelsea after one season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Gareth Southgate, who is preparing for England’s Euro 2024 campaign, was another named floated around ahead of his Three Lions contract expiring in December.
Speaking in The Overlap’s newsletter, Gary Neville said that both Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino were seen as targets for their “instinct” and “personality.”
The 49-year-old United legend added that Ineos’ decision not to move for Tuchel or Pochettino suggested that they had a “Gareth Southgate-type manager” in mind.
“Sir Dave Brailsford, director of sport at Ineos, and Dan Ashworth, the incoming director of football, are very methodical process-driven people and that is clearly the route they will go,” Neville said.
“Pochettino and Tuchel are probably more about instinct and using the force of their personality.
“The fact that they haven’t appointed either of them seems to indicate that United are leaning towards a Gareth Southgate-type manager, who can lead a process-driven culture change at the club. But there’s no way that they can hang on waiting for Southgate.”
Neville critical of Ineos over Ten Hag
Ahead of the news about Ten Hag’s future at United, Neville was critical of the way that Ineos had handled their decision on the Dutchman.
“I understand why United have taken a little longer, but with no real candidate emerging, they need now to confirm Ten Hag,” he said.
“Even though it looks like they’ve spoken to other people, I suspect everyone can be grown up, shake hands and get on with the job, even though Ten Hag knows he isn’t their No 1 choice.”