Still in discussion after another laborious start to the season, Erik ten Hag has not stayed long term at Manchester United. Members of the club’s management have even already contacted a potential replacement in the person of Xavi Hernandez.
Manchester United’s matches and results follow one another and are similar month after month. Despite his miraculous survival at the end of last season, notably thanks to his victory in the FA Cup against Manchester City, Erik ten Hag is still experiencing difficulties this season. There have already been two heavy defeats against Liverpool and Tottenham (3-0) in the league and this draw snatched from Porto in the Europa League. Last weekend, the sluggish victory against Brentford did not reassure either.
The Red Devils are already far away in the Premier League, 12th, 6 points from the podium and will still not play for the title, unless there is a crazy turnaround, despite the €215 million spent on the transfer match this summer. The future of the Dutch coach is once again being questioned, as it is at almost every press conference. “The noise only comes from the media, from some of you, not all, creating stories and fairy tales, telling lies because I know we are on the same wavelength within this club” said the interested party, very annoyed, 4 days ago.
Xavi contacted twice by members of Manchester United
The fact remains that Erik ten Hag will not remain in his position at this rate, even if he seems to have immense credit despite his team’s poor performances. Gareth Southgate’s name appeared at the end of last season, then that of Thomas Tuchel, who will finally take the reins of the English selection from January 1st. Another coach has been mentioned for a few days and he is rather unexpected. According to the latest information from the Daily Mail, it is that of Xavi Hernandez. The latter has been contacted twice by intermediaries from the English club in recent weeks.
A four-man delegation led by general manager Omar Berrada even flew to Barcelona last Thursday. A number of meetings took place in the Catalan capital, and not only to encourage the Ineos Britannia team, beaten in the America’s Cup final against New Zealand. The media outlet nevertheless specifies that Ten Hag’s very short-term future is not yet threatened, but new disappointments against Fenerbahçe and West Ham could change the situation. For his part, Xavi, without a club since leaving Barça in June, does not see himself continuing in Spain and is English-speaking.