Erik ten Hag sacked as Jamie Carragher outlines where Man United chiefs have gone wrong

Former Liverpool defender-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher agrees with Erik ten Hag's sacking by Manchester United, but doesn't actually blame the manager for any of their failings this season.

The Dutchman was removed from his managerial post at Old Trafford on Monday, as confirmed in a statement by the club. It read: 'Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

'We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.'

Carragher fought in battles over many years as a player for bitter rivals Liverpool, but coinciding with Man United's fall from the peak of English football over the past decade or so has covered events as a pundit with Sky Sports. Offering his latest opinion, he says that it is in fact those in charge - Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new football structure - who are actually to blame for not actually taking this action sooner.

"It should have happened in the summer and that's not on Erik ten Hag, that's on the new ownership model who have come into the club. All they have done is kick the can down the road for what is it, nine league games Manchester United have played in? And they've cost themselves £200m in terms of bringing players in during the summer who the manager would have identified," he blasted.

"It just seems daft, really, the fact that they kept him in the job because it was always inevitable this was going to happen. He had to hit