Sir Jim Ratcliffe Admits Mistake in Extending Erik ten Hag’s Contract

Manchester United’s Managerial U-Turn

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has acknowledged that renewing Erik ten Hag’s contract was a mistake, only to dismiss him three months later. Despite leading United to an FA Cup victory against Manchester City, Ten Hag was handed a contract extension in the summer, even though the team had finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League—their worst finish in history.

United secured a Europa League spot thanks to their FA Cup win, but their league performance raised concerns. Despite weeks of internal discussions, Ratcliffe’s leadership team chose to extend Ten Hag’s deal. However, after a poor start to the new season, they quickly reversed their decision and sacked the Dutchman.

“I agree the Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors. There were mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were mistakes. I accept that and I apologize for that,” Ratcliffe told BBC Sport.

He admitted that at the time of the decision, INEOS had just taken control, making it difficult to assess whether United’s struggles were due to Ten Hag himself or deeper structural issues.

“It was too early for us to make such a big decision,” Ratcliffe told Gary Neville. “We couldn’t determine if the inconsistency was down to Erik or the club’s overall structure. We gave him the benefit of the doubt.”

Ten Hag’s Influence on Transfers

Ratcliffe also revealed that Ten Hag played a direct role in some of the club’s recent signings, particularly players with Dutch connections.

“We had to decide whether to involve the coach in transfers. We did, and he had a say in the process,” Ratcliffe explained. “That’s why there were one or two Dutch players in the squad.”

This suggests that players such as Antony and others with Eredivisie backgrounds may not have been signed purely based on club strategy, but because of Ten Hag’s influence.

What’s Next for Manchester United?

With Rúben Amorim now in charge, Manchester United is undergoing a complete overhaul. Ratcliffe has made it clear that rebuilding the squad and restructuring the club is necessary to compete with Europe’s elite.

But will these drastic changes bring success, or will United’s instability continue?

What do you think?

Should United have given Ten Hag more time, or was his dismissal the right decision? Share your thoughts in the comments!