Erik ten Hag’s surprise stay of execution at Manchester United came down to the support of Sir Dave Brailsford.
Without the backing of INEOS sporting director Brailsford, Ten Hag would not have survived the end-of-season review into the Old Trafford playing set-up, including his own position.
Before the FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City, the Dutchman was a goner – with the club’s new billionaire co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe deeming a change in the hot-seat imperative.
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That followed United’s worst season in Premier League history as they slumped to a desperate eighth-place finish. However, the unexpected Wembley triumph over their bitter local rivals last month – against all the odds – altered the landscape in Ten Hag’s favour.
And, according to our Old Trafford source, it gave Brailsford the opportunity to convince INEOS supremo Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy to stick rather than twist with the manager.
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The ex-GB cycling boss argued they would be better off allowing the current regime to build on the success of a second piece of silverware in as many seasons – rather than risk everything, ripping it up and starting over.
The fact the majority of the hardcore United fanbase shared that opinion – along with Sir Alex Ferguson and other high-profile former United stars – enhanced the case to keep Ten Hag.
As did the lack of an obvious, elite alternative to replace him. Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna were discussed before being discarded.
None ticked all the boxes required to assume the reins and, with Ineos’ unpopular first-choice Gareth Southgate unavailable this summer, Brailsford’s vote for Ten Hag proved decisive in the U-turn.
The ex-Ajax boss, 54, with a year left on his original Reds contract, is now negotiating a two-year extension.