- Man United chiefs were seen leaving a key meeting in Knightsbridge on Tuesday
- There is growing pressure on manager Erik ten Hag after their slow start
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe was seen leaving Ineos’ headquarters in London after a crunch meeting, with Erik ten Hag’s future as Manchester United manager among the key topics discussed.
United’s leadership team gathered at the Ineos headquarters in Knightsbridge for the scheduled talks.
The hierarchy were seen arriving at the London base around 11.30am, before departing around six hours later after the Premier League giants’ executive committee meeting.
The meeting has taken on extra significance amid doubts over Ten Hag’s future.
Ten Hag is under intense pressure after a woeful start to the season which leaves the 13-time Premier League champions 14th in the table on just eight points from seven matches – their worst ever start in the competition.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, centre, was seen leaving Ineos’ headquarters in Knightsbridge on Tuesday
Ratcliffe (blue suit) and Sir Dave Brailsford were among the decision makers at the meeting
Man United boss Erik ten Hag’s future was among the key items discussed at the meeting
Two draws in the last week, including a 3-3 stalemate against Porto in the Europa League and a goalless run-out against Aston Villa on Sunday, ended a run of defeats but did little to steady Ten Hag’s position.
Ratcliffe was seen leaving the meeting with director Sir Dave Brailsford, his right-hand man, who has been heavily involved at Man United since Ineos sealed minority ownership of the club.
Ratcliffe had refused to give the Dutchman his public backing last week, insisting Ten Hag’s future is ‘not my call’.
Mail Sport understands the ultimate decision on Ten Hag’s future will be made by him, Joel Glazer and Brailsford.
Their decision will be based on recommendations from Man United chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Ratcliffe and co-chairman Glazer had been present at Old Trafford on Monday for a Fan Advisory Board meeting before heading to London today.
Chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell were also in attendance at the executive committee meeting.
United are wary of fuelling speculation over Ten Hag’s future after Thomas Tuchel and Simone Inzaghi were linked with the job if he is sacked after two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Brailsford is among the key figures who are expected to decide on Ten Hag’s future
INEOS Sport’s chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc was pictured leaving the high-profile summit
The United co-owner Ratcliffe led staff inside his Knightsbridge offices earlier on Tuesday
Brailsford (right) was among those who were spotted by ITV News arriving on Tuesday
Sporting director Dan Ashworth was another key figure seen arriving for the meeting
Ratcliffe is known to be an admirer of Tuchel and met the German coach in Monaco during the summer when Ten Hag’s future was in doubt before the FA Cup final.
Tuchel is still available but it’s unclear if the obstacles that prevented him from replacing Ten Hag then can be overcome now.
Money was said to be one of them. It’s understood there has been no new contact between United and his representatives at this stage.
Tuchel’s potential appointment would see him return to manage in the Premier League for the first time since leaving Chelsea in 2022.
The other obvious option open to United is to install Ten Hag’s new assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss.
The former United striker returned to Old Trafford as part of a summer shake-up of the coaching team having had managerial experience at PSV Eindhoven. Van Nistelrooy has got to know the players and staff, and is well respected around the club.
Ratcliffe and United’s hierarchy were in attendance for the stalemate draw against Aston Villa
Otherwise, the landscape has changed very little since June when United decided that keeping Ten Hag was the best course of action and gave him a one-year contract extension.
Meanwhile, plans for a new Old Trafford stadium took another step forward last month as the first images of a potential regeneration were revealed.
