Erik ten Hag ‘interim manager’ at Man Utd after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s part-takeover and is ‘on trial’ until end of season

ERIK TEN HAG is “on trial” and “effectively an interim coach” at Manchester United until the summer, claims Jamie Carragher.

The 53-year-old Dutchman remains under pressure after a poor first half of the campaign and is among the favourites to be the next Premier League manager to go.

GettyJamie Carragher says Erik ten Hag is ‘on trial’ after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment[/caption]

GettyThe Man Utd boss remains one of the favourites to be axed[/caption]

The Red Devils are eighth in the table – 14 points adrift of leaders Liverpool – and have already been dumped out of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Reports continue to speculate on Ten Hag‘s future with rumours emerging that he does not have the full backing of the entire playing squad, who are split on the ex-Ajax chief.

It then emerged that he looks set to avoid the sack this season as Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who bought 25 per cent of United on Christmas Eve for £1.3billion, is planning a detailed structural review which will likely take up to two months.

But Liverpool legend Carragher believes that Ten Hag is under serious threat unless results pick up before the summer following Ratcliffe’s arrival.

Writing in his Telegraph column, he said: “Erik ten Hag is on trial as Manchester United manager since the Ineos ‘takeover’. He is effectively an interim coach until the end of the season.

“Unless there is a significant upturn in results and performances, he will have to go.

“This is a natural consequence of significant boardroom upheaval. Wherever there is new investment at an elite football club, an instant review of every department follows – especially those that are malfunctioning.”

Ratcliffe and the other INEOS chiefs will oversee all of the football related duties at the club, including staff hires and transfer business.

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And former England defender Carragher has raised questions over whether they will see Ten Hag as the type of manager he wants leading United. 

He added: “If you are Sir Jim Ratcliffe and vowing to pump billions of pounds into the club, one of the first priorities is establishing whether you have a coach who represents the dynamism you want associated with your business.

“Ratcliffe will attend his first United game as a major shareholder this weekend asking himself this question: is this manager a symbol of the club I want to rebuild?”

Ratcliffe is set to be at United’s home clash against Tottenham on Sunday.

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