Erik ten Hag is a man who has run out of answers
In the foreword to Grit, Rigour & Humour, his book about the INEOS success story, Sir Jim Ratcliffe cuts to the heart of what has made him one of Britain’s richest men.
It relates to an adventure with friends in the remote Kimberley region of northern Australia four years ago when Ratcliffe’s helicopter stopped off at a refuelling station in the middle of nowhere, and he spotted a message on a whiteboard to any passing pilot. ‘Don’t do dumb s***.’
It was a refreshingly simple but effective piece of advice, and one that resonated with Ratcliffe’s business approach. A working-class man at heart with old-fashioned values, the 71-year-old INEOS owner is also a ruthless operator who demands accountability from those around him.
Ratcliffe has surrounded himself with experts such as Sir Dave Brailsford, whose marginal gains theory transformed British cycling. They are men who do not accept failure.
In his explanation of the INEOS ethos, Ratcliffe wrote: ‘Do your job fully, and well, and with pride. Prepare thoroughly, and if you don’t know the answer to a question, say so, but never twice.’
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag seemed to be in desperate need of this advice as he faced the media after his team’s crushing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday. He appeared to be a man who has run out of answers.
‘I expected something different,’ said the Dutchman, and you couldn’t help but think of Ratcliffe’s definition of rigour as being the ‘opposite of winging it’.
Ten Hag cuts a figure of uncertainty, unsure of what to expect from his team from one week to the next. This is puzzling considering he has been in charge for 18 months and has spent £400 million on new players.
On the other hand, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who took over just this summer, showcased his imprint on the team with a superb performance. His side pressed, harried, and outplayed United, leaving Ten Hag’s team struggling to find any form or identity of their own.
As Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to move into Old Trafford with his acquisition of a quarter of United for £1.25 billion, these are the questions he will be asking. Where is Ten Hag’s hallmark on the team? What is the identity of his Manchester United?
But Ten Hag’s challenges do not end there. This week is crucial for the under-pressure manager as United face a make-or-break Champions League game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Even if they manage to win, their progress to the knockout stage relies on Copenhagen and Galatasaray drawing.
Following that, United will face a daunting trip to Anfield, where Liverpool thrashed them 7-0 in March. With captain Bruno Fernandes suspended and key players like Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount unlikely to be available, Ten Hag must make crucial decisions to try and salvage a positive performance.
Unfortunately for Ten Hag, the chances of United stringing together two big performances in the same week seem remote at best, based on the rollercoaster nature of their season so far.
While United have shown flashes of brilliance, their inconsistency is a glaring issue. Ten Hag was named Premier League Manager of the Month for November, but following the defeat to Bournemouth, he finds himself back in a precarious position.
Under Ten Hag’s guidance, United have suffered their 11th defeat in 23 games this season, with the team losing more Premier League games in the decade since Sir Alex Ferguson retired than in Ferguson’s entire 26-year reign.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth celebrated their first-ever victory at Old Trafford with goals from Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing, and Marcos Senesi. Their exceptional performance was well-deserved, and United’s lackluster display in the pouring Manchester rain was met with boos from frustrated fans.
This defeat was reminiscent of a comical post from United’s Twitter account a decade ago: ‘David Moyes says #mufc must improve in a number of areas, including passing, creating chances, and defending.’
Now, Ten Hag finds himself in a similar situation, struggling to solve United’s ongoing issues. It leaves one wondering what he said to his players before the Bournemouth match. Perhaps he would have done well to impart the same simple message Ratcliffe saw on that whiteboard in Australia.
As Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford prepare to become key decision-makers at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag faces a critical week. His future as Manchester United manager could hinge on the outcome of these upcoming fixtures.
