Erik ten Hag opens up on Sir Alex Ferguson ruthless axe by Man United owners

Sir Alex Ferguson may no longer be on the Manchester United payroll, but his presence continues to loom large over the fallen giants.

Current United boss Erik ten Hag acknowledged this reality when asked about the club’s decision to strip Ferguson of his £2.16million-a-year ambassadorial role.

More than a decade after Ferguson rode off into the sunset, having secured United’s last league title, every manager that has followed has struggled to meet his unparalleled standards.

Despite becoming the only manager to win trophies – the League Cup and FA Cup – in his first two seasons at the helm, Ten Hag finds himself grappling with challenges.

With the team languishing in 14th place following their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, he faces mounting pressure to turn things around, beginning with their upcoming match against Brentford.

Like his predecessors – David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – Ten Hag is discovering just how difficult it is to manage under the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson.

“At the moment, we can’t match the standards he set, but still we have won trophies,” said Ten Hag.

“Remember, six years before, this club didn’t win any trophies, so we’re coming back, we’re returning, but obviously we’re not there [yet].

“One thing for sure is that there’s almost no club in the world where exceptions are as high as at Manchester United and that’s set from the era of Sir Alex.

“The rest of us who come after have to deal with this.

“But that’s nice, that’s why you want to be here.

“It’s a big challenge, but it also demands the highest standards in every process and obviously we’re not there in every process.

“We didn’t, so far, get to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League titles, but that’s the ambition and the expectation, but still we’ve managed to win some trophies.

“I don’t think in terms of how many years you need.

“I want to win every game and I want to make every season a success, with trophies and with titles.

“I think about this and about how I have to win every game and how we, as a team, have to match the standards to win every game – then you get there, to where you have to be.

“Those are the expectations that Sir Alex set for this club.”

Asked about the decision to axe Ferguson from his ambassadorial role, Ten Hag said: “Of course it has an impact on us.

“Sir Alex is Manchester United.

“He built United to where the club is now and it impacts us.

“But on the other side, we know and Sir Alex knows what he wants.

“He wants to see a winning Manchester United and I’m sure he’s always available for any advice and we will need him.

“Now and then we have good contact.

“I would say, once in half a year I meet formally with him, but also of course, informally, around games.”

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