Man Utd chiefs fume at Erik ten Hag for revealing details of their Ibiza summit in bombshell interview with Dutch TV
ERIK TEN HAG is in hot water with Manchester United’s hierarchy after revealing details of their Ibiza summit.
The Red Devils boss was on holiday there when officials from the club turned up on his doorstep to ask him to continue as the club’s manager.
They also informed him they had spoken to other candidates, including former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, but that they wanted to keep the Dutchman on.
Ten Hag was understandably angry with how he had been treated and the way in which this message was delivered when he was supposed to be on a relaxing break.
But new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are unhappy that what they thought was a private meeting was made public by the manager on Dutch television this week.
The club DO want Ten Hag, 54, to sign a new three-year deal but that is understandably some way from being agreed as yet.
Ratcliffe owns 27.7 per cent of United and has been tasked with looking after all football operations at the club.
He has Sir David Brailsford as his right-hand man and employed Jason Wilcox as technical director.
Meanwhile, incoming football director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada are still seeing out gardening leave from their former clubs — Newcastle and Manchester City respectively.
It has not been a great start for the new regime as majority owners, the Glazer family, take a back seat.
What did Ten Hag say?
Here is a full transcript of Erik ten Hag's interview that has upset Manchester United officials.
Interviewer: “Have you been able to recover a bit over the past few weeks? Obviously, it’s been turbulent.
ETH: “It’s been a tumultuous season, a very turbulent year of course.
Interviewer: “But it is never dull right?
ETH: “No, never a dull moment at Manchester United.”
Interviewer: “But have you been able to have a little vacation?
ETH: “Yes, but this week, they really threw a spanner in the works because then, out of nowhere, they suddenly showed up right on our doorstep.
Interviewer: “At your place?”
ETH: “Mine, yes. They wanted to continue with me.”
Interviewer: “How did that go? How did you experience those weeks, then? Because your position was unclear, they were considering whether to continue with you.
ETH: “Yes, I think as in any organisation I think that is very wise that you evaluate and draw conclusions from there that’s what Manchester United did.
“The leadership, the new leadership, who are in football for the first time have taken extensive time to evaluate things.”
Interviewer: “The men of Ineos, actually, tell me everything because, for example, the story goes that Thomas Tuchel was also approached during that period. Do they tell all that, or is it also just go ahead now, and we don’t look back?
ETH: “No they did indeed tell me that. But anywhere I don’t think that is a secret either because everyone got to know that they talked to several candidates.”
Interviewer: “How did that come across to you?”
ETH: “Well, look in the Netherlands that is still thin we have CDV here and that’s not allowed at all.
“You are not even allowed to talk to another club the moment the trainer is an incumbent.
“Well, the rules are a little different, and they did that, but in the end, they came to the conclusion that they had the best trainer.”
Interviewer: “And in between they were at the door or they called?2
ETH: “Yes, they came to Ibiza.”
Interviewer: “You yourself still had the idea of, well, I don’t know if I want to go on then myself?”
ETH: “We had a good talk and various topics were discussed and the conclusion was that we will continue with each other but also the conclusion is that we are going to sit down to renew the contract.”
Interviewer: “Okay, so the air is cleared, and you go because you have another year’s contract, and you’re going to renew now?
ETH: “Well of course, we absolutely have to come to some sort of agreement.”
Interviewer: “Well, congratulations, already almost then, right? Or you say, well, that’s not done one, two, three just yet?”
ETH: “No that’s not one, two, three done yet, we still have to talk about that.”
Ratcliffe and Co have angered staff behind the scenes with criticisms in emails, while also offering redundancy packages. They wanted to give Ten Hag one of those, too, after the club finished a record low of eighth in the Premier League last season.
But United’s surprise FA Cup final win over champions City saw a wave of support from fans swing behind Ten Hag.
This rattled Ratcliffe and his team and they bought themselves time by claiming a season’s review was needed before making a final decision.
Then, after no new suitable candidate wanted the job or could be found, they decided to keep Ten Hag.
It all adds up to a mess with the clock ticking down to United’s first pre-season game against Norwegian outfit Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 15.
And the spotlight will be on them at full beam as they get the new Prem season under way at home to Fulham on opening night, August 16.
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
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