Erik ten Hag has insisted he is developing a clear playing style at Manchester United with INEOS looking to establish a new game model at Old Trafford.
Boss Ten Hag has found himself under mounting pressure with United on course to miss out on Champions League football next season and the new regime, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are said to be assessing whether he would fit into this project.
Ratcliffe has yet to issue a public display of support for the embattled coach and it is thought a decision over his future will be made at the end of the season.
United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox has been given the task of introducing the new game model, as reported by The Telegraph. As part of this process, Wilcox will also inform decision-makers whether Ten Hag would be suited to these plans.
However, in the first sign of potential friction between Ten Hag and the INEOS-led hierarchy, the manager has outlined his belief that United are already benefiting from a unified philosophy stretching across the academy and the first-team.
‘Strengthening the pathway between the academy and the first team was one of my priorities when I came to the club, working together with Darren Fletcher as the connector and [academy director] Nick Cox and his staff to develop a shared game model, with consistent training methods and playing styles,’ Ten Hag said.
‘We are seeing the results of that this season, with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo becoming important parts of the first team, and several others competing to join them.
‘A top club can never succeed with homegrown players alone, but they will always be an important part of Manchester United.
‘Ethan [Wheatley] can be proud to become the latest part of that story and others who show the right talent and winning attitude can follow him.’
Ten Hag had used his programme notes before United’s limp 1-1 draw with Burnley to make the bullish message. Earlier in the week, he had handed Ethan Wheatley his senior debut, making him the 250th academy graduate to step into the first team.
But he has also been unable to escape accusations that United do not possess a coherent style under his leadership, a situation worsened by their league position.
Wilcox was poached from Southampton to become United’s new technical director and has wasted no time in plotting several potential changes across the club. Darren Fletcher, who previously held his position, will remain albeit in a different capacity.
Ten Hag has spoken positively on United’s new ownership but the extent of his agreement to, or involvement with, a new game model is yet to be determined.
Wilcox is also expected to conduct an audit of Ten Hag’s training methods and relationships with the dressing room before reporting back to Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, United’s incoming chief executive who will begin work this summer.
United have headhunted Dan Ashworth for their sporting director vacancy but with an agreement with Newcastle yet to materialise, he will take them to arbitration.
