Erik ten Hag's two-word Manchester United statement offers hope for the future

It's fair to say that when Ineos and Erik ten Hag opened talks over a new contract for the Manchester United boss, this wasn't the outcome that was initially envisioned. If the plan had always been to simply take the option in the Dutchman's contract, they would have done so while they sat around the sun loungers in Ibiza.

What happened between now and then to lead us to this position is unclear. What is clear is that United wanted to sell this as a contract being extended. Perhaps it's semantics, but in reality, what has happened is a formality that was available to them the moment Ten Hag signed his first contract in 2022.

He remains on the same financial package he was already on, maintains his transfer veto and is still listed as the club's manager. Nothing has really changed at all.

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This decision does at least provide some clarity. There would have been a desire on all sides to have an agreement before pre-season training on Monday and if the outcome was only ever leading to the one-year extension being activated, then that is clearly the best option.

From what both camps had indicated after their Ibiza summit on June 11, this wasn't the expected outcome. It still provides clarity, however. Ten Hag now has two years left on his deal and he has had at least a show of some support from Ineos, even if it is not the kind of deal he might have expected.

Ten Hag and new sporting director Dan Ashworth did at least sing from the same hymn sheet during their comments on the extension. In particular, Ten Hag mixed his pride at two trophies in two seasons with an acceptance that things