Robbie Savage believes that Erik ten Hag’s position at Manchester United is safe, at least for now.
Savage was a youngster at United but left to make his name elsewhere, with most of his success coming at Leicester City.
United went on to dominate England in the last decade of the millennium and then first decade of the next, but after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson as their manager, their performance has slowly crumbled.
They are currently struggling under yet another manager, former Ajax coach Ten Hag. Savage however, thinks that the Dutchman will be kept in place, at least until a new sporting director is brought in and Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides the direction of the club.
He told Planet Sport Bet: “I don’t think anything can happen in terms of the management structure whilst there is still speculation around Sir Jim Ratcliffe going into Manchester United.
“A decision can’t be made until they get a new sporting director in who can then decide on a process. I don’t think any decision can be made until things are sorted out higher up in the club. Nothing can happen in terms of a managerial change until the hierarchy have got the right people in place.
“To fail to win against Galatasaray having been 2-0 and 3-1 up is not good enough. They haven’t been good enough in the Champions League and now they’re in a position where they have to beat Bayern Munich and results have to go their way in the game between Galatasaray and Copenhagen. Beating Bayern Munich is going to be very difficult. They’ve also got games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa coming up which won’t be easy.
“I don’t think the club can make any decisions about the manager until the structure of the club is in place. Getting a new sporting director in is fundamental, then a decision will have to be made. Manchester United have to win football matches and the main thing for me at the moment is the body language. There is a lethargy within the team at the moment.
“Against Galatasaray I thought every player gave everything, but they looked like a completely different team against Newcastle at the weekend. The main problem is the body language and a lot of ex-United players are picking up on it saying that they’re good going forward, but you have to be willing to sprint back.
“When you’re at United and you’re not winning games, things are highlighted. There was a picture blown up of Anthony Martial throwing his hands in the air at Ten Hag, that happens every week at every club but it’s highlighted because it’s United. Rashford was rightly taken off but now people are zooming in on him sat on the bench and trying to lip read what he is saying. Every player that comes off will be annoyed, but these things are now being highlighted because it’s United and they are on a poor run.”