Joel Glazer given final say on Erik ten Hag sacking after changing Man Utd plans
If Manchester United loses against Liverpool on Sunday for the third time in a row, Joel Glazer will be the only person with the authority to decide whether to fire Erik ten Hag.
Since their unexpected Champions League elimination in recent days, the Dutchman has been under increasing pressure. United finished bottom of their group with four points from six games after losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich at home on Tuesday.
This followed the Red Devils’ humiliating 3-0 Premier League loss at Old Trafford against Bournemouth. Out of the 24 games played thus far this season in all competitions, United has now lost 12.
And if United is defeated by league leaders Liverpool, who have won their previous three premier league games, Ten Hag is anticipated to face more pressure. The Manchester Evening News reports that Patrick Stewart, who took over as temporary chief executive when Richard Arnold was fired, lacks the authority to fire Ten Hag, and that John Murtough, the director of football at United, has no intention of doing so.
But Glazer essentially has the last word over Ten Hag’s destiny before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s $25 per stake is approved, according to MEN. Ratcliffe hopes to close a £1.25 billion agreement with United before the end of the year. Ratcliffe is expected to take over as the club’s football operations manager under the terms of the deal, which will require official certification.
Ten Hag finds the previous United record at Anfield to be unappealing. Actually, the Red Devils had lost all eight of their previous visits to Liverpool, with the humiliating 7-0 loss from the previous season being the most agonising. Thanks to braces from Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah, as well as a goal from Roberto Firmino, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds ran amok back in March, humiliating United.
In the meantime, it was stated earlier this week that United is not expected to activate Anthony Martial’s contract’s one-year extension. This implies that Martial would become a free agent and depart the Red Devils in the summer. So far this season, he has made 12 appearances and scored just one goal.
Glazer is a fan of Martial, the France international, even if many United supporters will be happy that the player is free to depart. As was previously mentioned, Martial is Glazer’s favourite player and he prevented Jose Mourinho from getting fired from the team during his tenure.
After United’s loss to Bournemouth the previous weekend, Ten Hag spoke up for Martial, saying the criticism from the team’s supporters was unjust. Speaking two weeks ago against Everton, he demonstrated his complete set of skills and qualities. Therefore, he added, “I don’t think it is fair, after a performance like this, to go to one player.” We completely failed as a collective.”