Gary Neville has laid out the challenge Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag faces to impress Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United’s form has been on an upward trajectory since their dramatic comeback win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day; the first game after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake was announced by the club, which is still subject to Premeir League approval. An away win over Villa in the reverse fixture over the weekend helped to significantly close the gap on their rivals in the race for Champions League football.
A late Scott McTominay header ensured that United had picked up 13 points in their last six league games, as well as advancing in the FA Cup. Momentum appears to be with United as they close in on fifth place – which could mean Champions League qualification – and club legend Gary Neville believes that is what is required for Ten Hag to prove himself to Ratcliffe, who will help oversee football operations at United.
The former United captain added that he believes Champions League qualification would help ease the FFP concerns United have had in recent transfer windows after the club failed to make any significant additions to Ten Hag’s squad in January, while they also set a strict transfer budget in the summer of £120million that was added to by player departures.
With the United boss coming under pressure for his job following the team’s struggles this season, Neville says a top four place would likely persuade the club’s new minority owner that he is the right man to take them forward.
“The change around has coincided with Jim Ratcliffe’s announcement and the club needed something,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast. “It needed a change up top but the big question at the end of the season will be if the manager and the players remain – they will be the test.
“Those decisions won’t be determined yet and they will be ones that will be looked at and Erik ten Hag had a good first season – if he can get them in the Champions League this season, he has a very good chance of retaining his position next season.”
“There is no doubt there is a microscope on every single person in the club, on and off the pitch,” Neville added. “Jim Ratcliffe and his team are going to be going in there, and I am not saying notepads as they are walking around, but they are going to be looking at every single facet of that club, particularly the football and performance side and working out what August will look like.”
United did not make any signings in the January transfer window in their efforts to comply with FFP. However, missing out on a Champions League would also significantly hamper the club’s plans to improve their squad in the summer.
“For Manchester United, who are dealing with FFP as a lot of clubs are, we’ve seen in the January transfer window it’s gone dormant, but Champions League is the difference between an extra £50m in your bank and that’s huge when it comes to the transfer window,” Neville explained.
“It’s enormous for these players at Manchester United, the coaching staff, the staff here and people off the pitch ends well. The microscope is on every single player, every single staff member and they are all going to want to deliver under pressure, and they are stepping up a little bit. They’re in with a shout of finishing the season well, but they are going to have to finish the season well, and I think they are going to have to finish above Aston Villa.”