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Erik ten Hag’s future is far from guaranteed after what has been a horrible season for the club. This is especially considering the club is heading into a rebuild under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and more often than not, a new owner opts for a manager of their choice.
The Dutch tactician has between now and the end of the season to save his job with something tangible enough to salvage such a terrible season.
The only way to perhaps achieve this is winning the F.A Cup and secure a Champions League spot.
As such, it is going to be a huge 8 weeks as he tries to convince new management to keep him.
The Dutchman however has one thing going for him on this front: he trusts the youth, a factor that reportedly sits very well with Ratcliffe.
As Graeme Bailey explains, the United boss’ willingness to play his talented youth prospects is something which puts him in good stead with the new part-owner.
“Ten Hag has got a real feather in his cap at the moment because these young players love playing for him, they love the way he works. So I think that’s a real plus for him, I know Ratcliffe really appreciates the way Ten Hag is using the young players,” verbatim.
Perhaps signing a manager from Ajax was always going to be fantastic for the club’s youth system on account of how much Ajax trust their youth and rightly so.
Erik ten Hag’s tenure has seen some meteoric rises from Carrington, most recently young Kobbie Mainoo who looks like a proper midfield general already at only 18.
The manager’s trust has extended way beyond Carrington as he continues to trust young players like new striker Höjlund who is only 21 to lead the attack.
As it is often the case with great United sides, ten Hag has made the youngsters pivotal members of his team to the point that we couldn’t imagine Mainoo or Garnacho not in the strongest line-up for the club.
His continued trust in the youth just could earn him a longer stay in the hottest seat in world football.
