Choosing the right manager won’t solve Ratcliffe’s biggest Man Utd problem after Ineos botch Ten Hag sacking

Finally, the Ineos revolution is complete. The list of appointments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United extends to CEO, sporting director, technical director, head of scouting, an entire set of first-team staff and now the manager. It’s already a completely different club to one he invested in just over eight months.

That Erik ten Hag managed to outlast so many high-ranking officials in itself should be viewed as some form of an achievement. It’s one of the few compliments that can be said of the outgoing coach’s final 12 months in charge.

Many are surprised he lasted this long, especially given how ruthless Ineos have been across the board. They wanted to be in no doubt that this was the correct decision, that no-one could argue Ten Hag deserved more time.

PR was a huge factor in why Ineos didn’t sack the Dutchman during last month’s international break, they wanted there to be no comparisons with the Glazer regime that saw managers ultimately carry the can when the team underperformed.

But there was a sense that this was just a stay of execution. The United hierarchy also wanted to give themselves time to consider alternative options, just a few months on from a summer in which several high-profile managerial candidates were interviewed.

On both occasions United ultimately decided to stick with Ten Hag. On both occasions it was a mistake. But, as they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

The errors were only compounded by the decision to award Ten Hag a new contract last summer, hire a new set of backroom coaches, and for Omar Berrada to publicly back him just two months ago.

That came just before the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford on a bruising afternoon for Ten Hag, as was the loss to Tottenham Hotspur at home and the Europa League draws against Twente and Porto. Ironically, United finally pulled the trigger after the defeat at West Ham United, a game in which the team actually played well in.

But it had become abundantly clear that Ten Hag couldn’t turn things around. Many observers felt that way in the summer and that it took three attempts to come to the correct conclusion is alarming. They messed up, it’s as simple as that.

That Ten Hag went after the West Ham game suggests the board were waiting for the first defeat after the break to dismiss him. One result shouldn’t matter - yet it was because one result at Wembley last season that saw him retain his position. And after speaking to so many possible replacements in the summer, Ten Hag’s position was undermined. There was no way he could come back from that.

Ineos are quickly learning that for all their experience in sport, they’ve never dealt with a behemoth like United, where every minor decision is scrutinised and played out in public.

For the third time, Ineos now face the biggest decision of their reign so far: who should they hire as manager?

Thomas Tuchel was seen as the prime candidate in October but he’s no longer an option. Nor is Mauricio Pochettino, with the new USA manager among those interviewed last summer. Gareth Southgate wasn’t spoken to due to his international commitments but has publicly declared he wants a 12-month break, while reports have indicated former Barcelona manager Xavi is in the same boat. The list of options is shrinking.

However, Ruben Amirom and Julian Nagelsmann are among those under consideration, as is Thomas Frank, one of those spoken to last summer. Should the decision take a long time it would indicate poor management after interviewing so many possible replacements over the summer.

In Ineos’ defence, the manager’s job is viewed as just one cog in what should be a well-oiled machine and, as Berrada and Dan Ashworth prove, they will take their time to find the perfect fit. Meanwhile, United have proven for years that a new coach doesn’t necessarily mean long-term change.

The players that repeatedly let Ten Hag down are different to those who let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer down, who in turn are different to those who let Jose Mourinho down. There’s a pattern. It underlines the much bigger assignment Ineos have on their hands - there needs to be a cultural reshaping of the club.

Don’t be surprised if results improve sharply under Ruud van Nistelrooy or the long-term successor, but that doesn't mean Ratcliffe’s coterie have solved the club’s problems.