Manchester United staff believe Steve McClaren “could step in as caretaker” should Erik ten Hag’s position as manager become untenable before the end of the season.
The INEOS Sport team – who gained full control over the sporting operation at Old Trafford following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ratification as co-owner of the club in February – are content with the Dutchman remaining in charge until after the pivotal FA Cup final against Manchester City at the end of the month.
However, there has been zero indication from the club’s new rulers over their long-term support of Ten Hag, with the manner in which United finished the season – both in terms of results as well as performances – thought to be pivotal to any decision.
Which is why Monday night’s defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park will likely prove a death knell for the 54-year-old manager’s time at Old Trafford.
United were completely outplayed by a rampant Palace side who cut through a makeshift backline, comprised of an out-of-position Casemiro and an injured Jonny Evans, with ease, en route to a 4-0 demolition. Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta were imperious, but will not have faced an easier evening’s work this season.
While this disjointed defensive partnership offers some respite to criticism of Ten Hag’s team, it does not begin to excuse what an abject performance they produced as a collective. Yet it’s the type of match which has become customary this season.
If Monday night existed in isolation then it could conceivably be excused or dismissed as an off day, but it doesn’t.
There was little difference between the performance at Selhurst Park and the one six weeks ago at the Gtech Community Stadium, outside of clinical finishing.
Brentford were desperately unlucky to only come away with a point in a 1-1 draw, having hit the woodwork four times. With more care in front of goal, the Bees would have produced an even more dominant result over Ten Hag’s side than Palace, with the xG (expected goals) for both games underscoring this.
xG – Brentford (3.11) 1-1 (0.51) Man Utd
xG – Crystal Palace (1.63) 4-0 (0.41) Man United
In the aftermath of the match at Selhurst Park, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen were apoplectic in their rage at Ten Hag, believing the result had to the straw which broke the camel’s back.
Owen was adamant the Dutchman “simply cannot manager the team next season” while Scholes revealed the match “felt very similar” to the 4-1 defeat away to Watford which marked the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure as United manager.
Interestingly, both former United stars supported the possibility of assistant coach McClaren taking over on an interim basis, believing Ten Hag was not “letting him touch that team” because McClaren was too good of a coach for a side under his stewardship to look as dismal as they did.
“We’ve played under Steve. He’s coached us. There’s no way his fingerprints are anywhere near that team. He’s a brilliant coach. And that team is not being coached at all. No way,” Owen revealed, with Scholes in full agreement.
And, according to Chris Wheeler (Daily Mail), the idea of McClaren taking over is one shared by staff at Old Trafford: “Ineos will let him stay in charge for the rest of the season, although it has been suggested among staff that Steve McClaren could step in as caretaker if the situation goes into meltdown.”
With the prospect of Arsenal and Newcastle in the next week and a final day trip away to Brighton, there are three separate opportunities for a United “meltdown” before the season-defining FA Cup final at Wembley on May 25. It’s perfectly conceivable, based on the continuation of (or lack thereof) performances against Brentford and Palace, that United lose all three remaining games in resounding fashion.
If that happens, INEOS may be forced to react earlier than planned, but they would not have to look outside of the Old Trafford dressing room for a short-term alternative.
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