Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS may have made a U-turn on Erik ten Hag's future. (Image: REACH/GETTY)
Manchester United have decided to retain Erik ten Hag as manager following a rigorous two-week season review, during which most signs pointed at a departure. Among them, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's public statement after last month's FA Cup triumph poured fuel onto the fire of uncertainty and added to the expectation of a dismissal.
Sir Dave Brailsford led an audit into a disastrous second campaign under Ten Hag, which was salvaged with victory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
The Dutchman had overseen an eighth-place finish, United's worst of the Premier League era, and a Champions League group-stage exit, finishing bottom of Group A with just one win from six matches.
INEOS' ruthless off-field change as part of a structural shake-up made it seem like Ten Hag would be among the club figures to make way.
And reports claiming Ratcliffe and his group were meeting potential replacements for face-to-face talks as recently as last week indicated that all avenues were being explored.
But Ten Hag will enter a third year as United boss, and negotiations over a contract extension beyond 2025 are set to commence.
Ratcliffe or the club are yet to address the decision. In their eyes, there might be no need to confirm a manager who has just lifted the club's 13th FA Cup is staying put.
However, the 71-year-old's comments after the momentous win on May 25 made it seem like Ten Hag was under serious threat.
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It is normal for owners to name-drop the club's manager when delivering a message of congratulations about an achievement on the pitch.
That wasn't the case with Ten Hag, who got no mention as Ratcliffe raised eyebrows by hailing "players and staff" but not the Dutchman directly.
"It is a glorious feeling to win the FA Cup final at Wembley," Ratcliffe said in a statement shortly after United beat City 2-1.
"Manchester United were clearly not the favourites to win today, but they played with total commitment and skill and overcame one of the great teams in football.
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"We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them."
Had INEOS planned to retain Ten Hag all along, the normal action to take when asked about his future was to confirm that it belonged at Old Trafford.
But Ratcliffe added further doubt in the press zone as he left Wembley by acknowledging but not responding to a question about whether the 54-year-old would be in the dugout next season.
It appears to be quite a dramatic U-turn, especially if Ten Hag pens fresh terms, but the correct decision among many supporters and other outsiders.
