Over the past 14 months, there were numerous occasions when dismissing Erik ten Hag seemed justified, but Manchester United held on, hoping he could somehow turn the tide. Patience and excuses finally wore thin at Old Trafford following another disheartening loss to West Ham on Sunday, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League and increasingly anxious about another season outside the Champions League. The third consecutive defeat in east London was the final straw, compelling the club's top brass to consider terminating his contract due to their growing lack of confidence in a top-four finish. The decision could have been made at any point recently, but Sunday's performance epitomized the issues on the field. Errors at both ends of the pitch led to another lackluster loss, prompting a unanimous decision by the club hierarchy, with Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth informing Ten Hag on Monday at Carrington.

Ultimately, Ten Hag's downfall was not just a late penalty awarded after VAR intervention at West Ham. United's management had heard the final excuses of the Dutchman's tenure. Ten Hag claimed "luck is not on our side," but teams like United should not rely on fortune. They should be outperforming most teams in the league, but the lack of quality had persisted for far too long, leaving dismissal as the only viable option after a prolonged period of mounting frustration. Ten Hag fulfilled his media obligations for Wednesday's Carabao Cup match against Leicester, a press conference that was not broadcast, seemingly unaware that his end was near. Since Ineos acquired a 25% share, Ten Hag's position has been under constant scrutiny, with discussions held with other coaches while he was still in charge. Before the unexpected FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, there was a growing consensus that Ten Hag was not the long-term solution, as they finished eighth, their lowest ever position in the Premier League.

Returning to the Champions League is the minimum target for this season, but United are averaging 1.2 Premier League points per game after nine matches and believe that achieving their ambitions will require 70 points by May, or an average of 1.8 points per match. Ratcliffe and his team are also eager to be a European powerhouse, and such teams do not draw their opening three Europa League matches. Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel were considered, but the former remained at Ipswich, and the latter opted for the England national team job. Despite casting a wide net in search of a suitable candidate, the pool of realistic options at a club the size of Manchester United is incredibly limited. Bolstered by their win at Wembley, it was decided that Ten Hag could still turn things around. However, it was felt that a backroom refresh would be beneficial to change the dynamic. There were lengthy discussions with Ten Hag in Ibiza about moving forward. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Haké joined as assistants, and £200m was spent on players, yet the same lackluster performance continued.

Internal concerns suggested that the hierarchical upheaval might be better managed with continuity in the dugout. The arrival of new senior personnel, including chief executive Berrada, sporting director Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox, has led to significant changes and the formulation of a new strategy to permeate the club. Even in United's three Premier League wins this season, they have not looked convincing. United have won four of their 14 matches in all competitions, with a goal difference of -3 in the league, indicating issues at both ends of the pitch. Crushing home defeats by Liverpool and Tottenham highlighted a significant gap in class between United and elite opponents, despite the substantial investment at Old Trafford. Repeated excuses about poor finishing were made, while those above Ten Hag hoped for solutions that never materialized.

There was an acknowledgment of how Ten Hag had integrated young players like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo into the first team. However, he failed to get the best out of more experienced players; Marcus Rashford's form has long been a concern, and the manager's insistence on signing Antony from Ajax for £85.6m will forever mar the Ten Hag era. The winger has never looked capable of playing for an elite Premier League team. Clubs typically avoid mid-season dismissals because it further limits replacement options, but Ten Hag's credit ran out. Coaches often want a full pre-season to implement their ideas on a squad, which can be challenging with a constant stream of games. United will play twice a week for the rest of the year, with few players likely to be at Carrington during November's international break. Ten Hag's successor will likely have to contend with these consequences after this seemingly inevitable decision was delayed.

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