They got there in the end. In an entirely predictable turn of events Manchester United have finally found the gumption to follow through on a decision that was made a long time ago. They have sacked Erik ten Hag, who can have no complaints after another dreadful sequence of results, but the question for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s sprawling executive team is why it has taken so long when they had the opportunity to make a clean break last summer.
United had decided that Ten Hag’s time was up before the FA Cup final against Manchester City last season. The outcome of that game was not supposed to make a difference. The message was that even a 4-0 win would not save the Dutchman. United, who had finished in eighth in the league, were talking to multiple managers about taking over and there was no denial when the story was put to them a day before the final.
