'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
BeIN Sports presenter Richard Keys has slammed Manchester United's decision not to sack Erik ten Hag after concluding their end-of-season review. The Dutch coach looked set to be dismissed but is now seemingly closing in on a contract extension.
Keys gave a damning verdict of the decision with a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He alluded to Ten Hag overseeing an overly disappointing season:
"Worst PL season of all time. Bottom of the easiest CL group. A flukey Cup win v a team struggling after a week of title celebrations in a final they shouldn’t even have been in. Ten Hag was 4th choice for his own job. That’s funny enough but now they’re giving him a new deal?"
Trending
The Telegraph reports that Ten Hag is in talks with Manchester United over a new two-year deal. He will be in charge at Old Trafford next season in a surprising turn of events after the club's co-owners INEOS review.
INEOS are well-documented to have approached several Premier League coaches about the managerial job. Fulham's Marco Silva, Brentford's Thomas Frank, and former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel were all contacted about replacing Ten Hag.
Manchester United finished the season on a high after securing an unlikely 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Ten Hag headed into that game under intense pressure amid his side's disappointing season.
The Red Devils finished eighth in the league, their lowest finish since 1990. They lost 14 of 38 league games and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League and the Carabao Cup early doors.
"Felt like the end" - Paul Scholes reacts to Erik ten Hag staying at Manchester United
Paul Scholes was pleased with Manchester United's decision to continue with Ten Hag. The Red Devils icon hinted he was somewhat surprised because he felt like a 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace (May 6) would be the end of the road.
Scholes posted on his Instagram story several snaps of Ten Hag with the caption:
"Nice to wake up to this news although I did think [Palace] away felt like the end. Major improvements [are] needed but at least we have a bit of continuity and don’t have to wait for a new regime to settle in. Fans have given him and the players incredible support and deserve better next season."
Ten Hag received the backing of most of the Old Trafford fanbase while INEOS conducted their end-of-season review. Many felt the Dutchman was disrespected as he was still in charge while the co-owners held talks with potential replacements.
The former Ajax head coach arrived at Manchester United in July 2022 and impressed during his debut season. He oversaw a third-place finish and ended the club's six-year trophy drought with a Carabao Cup triumph.
Ten Hag's sophomore season with the Red Devils was tarnished by many issues, including ownership uncertainty. He also dealt with disciplinary issues with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.
