Manchester United make Erik ten Hag sack decision before Chelsea match as Arsenal watch on
Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag. United have made a disastrous start to the season, picking up 11 points from their first nine Premier League, as they sit 14th in the table following Sunday afternoon's crushing 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
United, who face Chelsea in their next league game on Sunday afternoon, have axed Ten Hag and appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie with Leicester.
In a statement on Monday morning, United said: "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, while a permanent head coach is recruited."
United face four more matches before the next international break. They take on Leicester on Wednesday night, before then entertaining Chelsea at Old Trafford this weekend. United then meet PAOK in the Europa League and another game against Leicester follows in the Premier League.
Following the 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Sunday afternoon, ex-United defender Neville feared that Ten Hag was in danger after the poor start to the season. "Erik ten Hag is asking for trouble," he said on his Sky Sports podcast. "He's 14th in the league nine games in, and nine games is nearly 25 per cent of the season gone.
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"It will be a big worry for everybody at the club, because the performance levels. United should have been 2-0 up, but they lost. They are 14th, they've spent a fortune.
"I was quite clear at the end of last season that, if they were in the same position in the league after their first few games, there would be a lot of questions being asked."