Erik ten Hag has two Man Utd stars to thank for keeping his job as INEOS wowed

Erik ten Hag Secures Future at Manchester United as INEOS Backs Youth Development

Manchester United have confirmed their confidence in Erik ten Hag, following an intensive two-week review of his performance, ending any speculation of his dismissal this summer.

Despite a challenging 2024/25 season, Sir Dave Brailsford led a 17-day audit that ultimately supported keeping Ten Hag as the best candidate to lead United forward. His success in early trophy wins, particularly the FA Cup victory on May 25, played a crucial role in this decision.

Ten Hag, expected to extend his contract beyond 2025 soon, might have faced termination had United lost another FA Cup final to Manchester City. Up until the final at Wembley, United endured their worst-ever Premier League season, finishing eighth and missing out on European football. They also exited the Champions League group stage after winning just one match against Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.

However, the unexpected 2-1 win against City not only secured FA Cup glory but also made Ten Hag the first United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to win major trophies in consecutive seasons. This victory also earned the team a Europa League spot.

Two standout players, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, were instrumental in the FA Cup final win and are key reasons INEOS has maintained faith in Ten Hag. Both players have flourished from academy prospects to first-team regulars under his guidance.

Reports from the Manchester Evening News suggest that Ten Hag’s success with integrating youth aligns with United’s tradition of developing young talent, which has impressed the new decision-makers at INEOS. His positive track record with younger players indicates potential improvement for the upcoming seasons.

Since Ten Hag’s arrival in the summer of 2022, he has aimed to integrate at least one academy player into the first team each season. Garnacho, who debuted under Ralf Rangnick in the 2021/22 season, became a key player under Ten Hag, while Mainoo made his first-team debut in Ten Hag’s first season and became a regular starter last term.

As pre-season approaches, Ten Hag is expected to evaluate the next group of young talents to determine who will step up in his third year as manager, continuing his commitment to fostering youth development at Old Trafford.