There were plenty of times over the past 14 months when sacking Erik ten Hag would have been justified but Manchester United clung on in the hope he could somehow turn things around. Patience and excuses finally ran out at Old Trafford after another dismal defeat at West Ham on Sunday, leaving them 14th in the Premier League and increasingly fearful of another season outside the Champions League.
Losing for a third straight season in east London was the straw that broke the camel’s back, forcing the club’s most senior figures to discuss terminating his contract because they were no longer confident of a top-four finish. The trigger may have been pulled at any point in recent times but Sunday’s performance was indicative of events on the pitch. Mistakes were made at both ends to ensure another limp loss and a unanimous decision was taken by the club hierarchy, before Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth informed Ten Hag on Monday at Carrington.
