Gary Neville has claimed that INEOS does not want to sack Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s future has been the subject of much debate, with United sitting in fourteenth place after their worst ever start to a Premier League season.
After a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham followed by a chaotic 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League, Sunday’s goalless draw against Aston Villa could be seen as a small step in the right direction for ten Hag.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance at Villa Park, along with INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, United chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Former United defender Neville cited the timeframe he believes INEOS needs to improve things.
Gary Neville has claimed that INEOS does not want to sack Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag’s team, which drew 0-0 against Aston Villa, has had a frustrating start to the season
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (L) and Sir Dave Brailsford watched United’s draw at Villa Park on Sunday
Neville added that he believes it is unlikely that INEOS will want to sack Ten Hag this season, especially after deciding to keep him in the summer.
He stated that he thinks INEOS will need about two to three years to improve United’s situation.
Neville told Air sports: ‘They definitely don’t want to do anything this season. No club wants to fire a manager in the middle of the season. It’s not just a reflection on the manager, it’s a reflection on them.
‘Even though INEOS has come into the club in recent months to take control of the football – and Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada have only been there for a few months – you can’t really lay the blame on them. door. They will need two to three years to solve this.
‘But the club has made the decision to keep Ten Hag in the summer, so they don’t want to reverse that decision within the first six or seven games. They just have to hope [something happens] in the next few weeks – through maybe a reset, some thinking time, some planning.”
However, Neville suggested Ten Hag should monitor an improvement in results ahead of the November international break.
He said: ‘The fans, coaches and players of Manchester United have been talking about this new structure around Ten Hag, which should come into place quite quickly in the coming weeks.
‘When the next international breakthrough comes and Manchester United are still in 13th, 14th place in the league, I think there will be a lot of pressure.
Neville stated that ten Hag must improve results before the November international break
‘The coming weeks are crucial to ensure that they can somehow gain some momentum for the rest of the season so that Ten Hag can keep his job.
‘Because no United fan wants to see Ten Hag lose his job, it would feel like we are in a roundabout and going around in the same way as we have for the last ten to twelve years.’
After the match against Villa, ten Hag emphasized that he retains Ratcliffe’s support.
Ten Hag said: ‘I have no idea that it is different, because [otherwise] they should have told me. We communicate very openly. It is very transparent.
“We’re all on board, on one page. We know that what we are working through is a long process. I talk to them all the time. After the match I have to do my job: talk to the players, manage the players and answer questions from the media.’