After all, even though the team has spent over half a billion pounds on player acquisitions since Ten Hag’s arrival two years ago, the Dutchman had overseen a miserable start to this Premier League season.
The players he brought in had mainly performed poorly, and his strategies had not been successful.
It was therefore not surprising when the management left.
When I asked Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire from Ineos, three weeks ago if he still believed in Ten Hag, he refused to support him.
Ratcliffe acknowledged that he liked the coach, but he spoke to the need to “take stock”, which was concerning.
Ten Hag then made it through the October international break and a meeting of the club’s leadership a few days later, but it seemed like he was playing on borrowed time. That’s what it proved.
Although few supporters will lament the manager’s dismissal, his departure also presents uncomfortable issues for Old Trafford’s management.
