- LIVE BLOG: All the news, updates and reaction as Erik ten Hag is dismissed
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Jamie Carragher insisted Manchester United made a mistake by not sacking Erik ten Hag in the summer and believes the decision reflects poorly on the leadership team.
Ten Hag was dismissed on Monday morning after holding an amicable meeting with United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth at Carrington.
Sunday’s dismal 2-1 defeat by West Ham proved to be his final game in charge and Ten Hag leaves with the club a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of fourth place.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in interim charge while United work on making a permanent appointment. As reported by Mail Sport, the club have already sounded out several candidates including former Barcelona head coach Xavi.
But, Liverpool legend Carragher has taken aim at United’s hierarchy for failing to act sooner.
Manchester United dismissed Erik ten Hag after the club’s extremely poor start to the season
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in interim charge until a permanent appointment is made
United’s hierarchy opted to sack Ten Hag just several months after deciding to keep him in the summer (pictured L-R: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth)
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: ‘It should have happened in the summer and that’s not on Erik ten Hag. That’s on the new ownership.
‘All they’ve done is kick the can down the road for nine league games and cost themselves £200million, in terms of bringing in players in the summer who the manager would have identified.
‘They may have come to the club because they had a relationship with the manager in the past. It just seems daft, the fact they kept him in the job, because it was always inevitable this was going to happen. He had to hit the ground running.
‘He had to be top of the league, there or thereabouts, to stay in the job.’
Carragher also waded into the debate over Ten Hag’s potential successor and identified Xavi as the ideal man.
‘It looks like they’re talking to Xavi, from Barcelona,’ he added. ‘He was one of my favourite players. I think he’s the best Spanish player of all time.
‘He’s managed Barcelona, he was seen as the next Pep [Guardiola], even as a player they thought he’d be a great manager. He lost his job but still won Laiga against a Carlo Ancelotti-managed Real Madrid.
‘Yes, he’s out of work at the moment, which makes it easier.
‘There’s a link between someone on the board and Xavi, there’s been some reports there’s been talks in the last few days.
‘I’m not sure what Man Utd can do right now, I don’t think the fans would buy Gareth Southgate, but I don’t think Xavi would be a bad appointment.
Jamie Carragher believes United made a mistake by not axing the Dutchman sooner
Carragher also named former Barcelona boss Xavi as a strong candidate to replace Ten Hag
Ten Hag’s record at Manchester United across all competitions since his arrival in 2022
‘He’s got huge status as a player, that doesn’t make you a great manager but it does give you instant respect on the training pitch.
‘There’s no-one in that dressing room who has won more than him, and he has been a manager of a huge football club and had success.
‘He’s won a league and a cup, up against Carlo Ancelotti. He’s not got a bad CV.’